Glens go top of the table

The fifths league game clashed with the rugby match in Rome. This obviously impacted on ticket sales but nonetheless those present watched an enthralling encounter with the game in the balance until the final whistle. On a beautiful sunny warm February day the fifths took on Pembroke. The Ballsbridge lads are coached by South African Louisa Moore. Danny had hoped to replicate the Pembroke model and to get Christine Barretto to take on the coaching duties with our fifths. Anyway there has been no answer to the call!!!

The first ten minutes were even but Glens settled quickly and Paul Barrett began to weave holes in the PW left hand side. This created many chances; most fell to the Professor, Danny, who scoffed chance after chance. Reade, Murphy, Carr and Collins also had chances but Furlong in the PW goal was top class. Short corners were no great success story with the figure of three scores in three seasons not bettered. Somehow it remained scoreless at the break. On one occasion Danny decided to perch up front and was put through one on one with the keeper but missed by a mile. Later he was two yards wide with another effort. Earlier he was only an inch away as he hit the post with Furlong beaten. He was about a foot wide with another great attempt.

There was a real chance that a lapse in concentration could lead to a PW win. Keppel was moved to centre forward and Dave took over as sweeper. Danny wanted a change to the metric system!!! After ten minutes with his Sky Sports rating at 1.2 Danny scored! A Glen’s corner went horribly wrong and the ball ended up near the right touchline. When it was switched across the goal there was the Prof. The texts started to fly in to the Sky centre and his ratings improved rapidly.

With fifteen to go the midfield that had been magnificent began to tire rapidly. PW got on top and created a series of half chances. However Tobin masterminded the defence and a famous victory was chalked up. Also worth noting Tobin became the oldest ever person to play for Glenanne in a league match. The Glens stay top of the table.

James Connolly and Greg Allen did not play. The former is known to be in serious training for the cup and has been seen running between the GPO and Kilmainham on many a day.

Man of the match Stephen Furlong, Pembroke goal keeper

Well done to the umpires Mr Paddy Deering and Mr Ronan Moore, both had an excellent performance and the players can be grateful that their judgements and sense of fair play contributed to an enjoyable afternoon.

The SKY sports ratings were reported as follows: -

Crosby 7, Roche 7, Keppel 6, Coleman 7, Glenn 7.5, Reade 7, Murphy 8, Barrett 7.5, McSweeney 6, Carr 6, Martin 6, Collins 6, Williamson 6, Tobin 6.1;