Date:          15.04.2023

Match:        Newtown United VS Borora Juniors 

Kick-off:      10:00

Venue:        Pitch 1, MDL, Navan

Borora Juniors players:

1. Oisin McInerney

3. Rocco Genockey

13. Matthew Morris

5. Drew Donaghy

6. Jack Moore

7. Eoin Murphy (C)

8. Keelan Sheridan

9. Kevin Fitzpatrick

16. Joseph McGarry

11. Lochlann O'Reilly

14. Cameron McGarry

Substitutes:

16. Aaron McGivern

12. Callum Teixeira 

4. Thomas Whelan

Players absent:

Oisin Sheridan (Def.) (Injured)

Liam Brady (tbc)

Cillian Ryan (Illness)

3 is not the Magic Number for Borora!

Coming into their THIRD game of the season, the visitors set out to get their first 3 points in the league but this was was hampered early on as the team were to line up without 3 of their main defensive line. Unfortunately Oisin Sheridan, Liam Brady and Cillian Ryan were unable to make the trip to Navan for this game. However, Cameron McGarry, Jack Moore and Matthew Morris stepped up and took their place beside ever present Rocco Genockey. 

Lochlann Reilly took his place up front as main striker with a 5 man midfield comprising of Eoin Murphy (C), Kevin Fitzpatrick, Keelan Sheridan, Joseph McGarry & Drew Donaghy ready to get stuck in. 

Borora set up for this game with a strong lineup to begin and this was backed up with a substitutes bench that were chomping at the bit to get into the game and get involved. 

1st Half:


Johnstown started this game very quick and controlled the early stages, putting the visitors under pressure and forcing goalkeeper Oisin MacInerney to make a number of early saves by coming off his line and collecting the ball from onrushing attackers. The early pressure told when the home side too the lead after just 8 minutes after a mix up in the Borora box which allowed Johnstown to take the lead. There was  suggestion that the opening goal was deflected into the goal via a touch of the defensive line of Borora but during the confusion it was difficult to confirm this. Regardless, the visitors had taken the lead. Borora knew that they still had plenty of time to get back into the game having conceeded so early on and this point was driven home by Captain Eoin Murphy who immediately began to rally the troops. 


Majority of the game was played out in midfield in the first half with the Johnstown goalkeeper rarely tested. Indeed it was Oisin MacInerney of Borora who had the most touches of the two goalkeepers which indicated how the game went. Half an hour into the game, Johnstown were awarded a penalty after the referee adjudged that an onrushing goalkeeper for Borora was just a split second late in making contact with a through ball. Johnstown player did manage to touch the ball away from Oisin but the contact (with the player) meant that their chance was gone but the referee deemed that Oisin had committed a foul during the play and awarded the spot kick. The Johnstown player casually stepped up to the ball and stroked it down the middle sending Oisin to his left. Johnstown continued to create a number of chances during the first half but, despite causing confusion in the Borora six-yard box on 2 or 3 occasions, there was no player there in front of goal to finish off the chances. Borora were lucky to go in at half time just the 2 goals down. 

Half Time: Johnstown 2 - 0 Borora Juniors 

2nd Half:

The second half was more competitive from Borora who stepped up their game and were more physical in the second half. Spells in this half saw Matthew Morris take up positions in defence and up front with Lochlann Reilly. This half also saw the introduction of Callum Teixeira in Midfield and Thomas Whelan in defence. Callum showed his physical side during this half by making a number of telling tackles and retaining play while Thomas Whelan stood tall also using his physique to shut out attacking play and break up Johnstown attacks. So proud of his play saw Thomas chest bump fellow defender Rocco Genockey after breaking up jut another play. 

Borora did create one or two chances in the second half. The most noticable of the two saw Matthew Morris press the back line of Johnstown when he blocked a hurried clearance. This fortunately dropped to the feet of Keelan Sheridan who was unmarked and all alone just outside the 18 yard box. Seeing the home goalkeeper was well off his line, quick thinking Keelan took a quick shot. However, this is where his GAA skills came into play and saw his shot sweep over the cross bar. Unlucky outcome but definitely the correct decision taken. Any other game this loops over the keeper and nestles into the back of the net. 

Despite conceeding a late free kick just outside the 18 yard box which was neatly swept home to Borora goalkeepers right hand side, that number 3 again made an appearance as the resulting third goal left a sour taste in Borora game as the 3-0 score line flattered the home side given the visitors performance in the second half.

Three defeats from three at this early stage of the group for Borora but it just takes one win to get the momentum going! Onwards and upwards Borora!

Good contributions throughout from Oisin McInerney, Rocco Genockey, Keelan Sheridan, Lochlann O'Reilly & Eoin Murphy.

Full-time result:  Johnstown 3 - 0 Borora Juniors 

Players of Match: Great performance from Jack Moore playing out of position in defence. Jacks pace up and down the left side of Borora line meant that he was ever willing to make play towards Johnstowns goal but was also able to transition back to defence on a number of occasions forcing the break up in play of Johnstown. Despite taking a number of knocks during the game, Jack continued on through to full time. While there were other great performances during the game (notably Callum, Teixeira Eoin Murphy & Lochlann Reilly), Jacks performance did stand out during this game so well deserved Player of the Match award.