Wind wind go away!!

Give me rain any day over the wind!! This game was played in horribly windy conditions but both teams did their level best to play football. It wasn't an exciting first half as we defended and tried to break on the counter. This proved difficult against the wind and about 15 mins in glenmalure scored. A clever through ball caught Sammer on the hop and instead of playing the ball he tried to play the man. Glenmalure's speedy number 10 didn't give up and got to the ball before it went out. He squared it and a neat finish from the number 9 gave Glenmalure the advantage. We settled after this and played a lot better but without creating too many clear cut chances before half time.

We played up the Hill in the second but had the wind. Glenmalure defended very well and their 10 was always a threat. Halfway through we got the equaliser from a corner. It was taken short and curled in before the defense could settle. Mo rose highest and placed a header perfectly into the bottom corner. 

The game opened up after this and Glenmalure started creating a lot of attacks down their right wing. They hit the byline loads but couldn't cross it. Balally had their fair share of chances too including a Sammer header which was cleared off the line as he tried to make amends for his first half mistake. Then with 5-7 mins left on the clock, we took the lead. 

PC played it forward and their left back headed it back towards his own goal. Dave was clean through and scored with a neat finish. There were a lot of shouts at the ref for offside but it was clearly played back by their own player so at least the ref go that right. Seconds later we weren't so fortunate. Glenmalure tipped off and broke forward. Paddy chased back to put a tackle in but it was deemed a foul. Unfortunately he had been booked for mouthing (nothing new there) in the first half and the ref decided this tackle was worthy of a second yellow. Down to ten men and backs to the wall but we defended well and created the odd chance.

With a minute left on the clock, Marty makes a great save. The ball goes up in the air, two defenders jump to head the ball clear but Glenmalure's player jumped betwee them with his hand up in the air. Blatant hand ball blocks the clearance and the ball drops to their striker. A deflected shot and the game was level again. 

There was still time for Balally to nick a winner. An attempted ball over the top was taken down by Sammer and he broke forward down the left wing. Playing the ball too far ahead their right back got it, but a similar bad touch from him allowed Sammer a chance to block the clearance. He retrieved the ball and picked out Dave in the centre. Dave swivelled but unfortunately couldn't make a strong enough connection on the shot and the ball was cleared.

2-2 it finished. A disappointing end to a game but probably a fair result on the balance of possession vs chances created. Also a marked improvement from the 4-1 defeat to Glenmalure on the opening day of the season.