The U9 Blues kicked off their post-summer season today with a fantastic away match against St. Anthony's at Finn Park. Despite missing some key players and starting with a squad of just seven, the boys showed incredible spirit in what turned out to be a brilliant contest. The pleasant weather provided the perfect setting for a game that highlighted the team's excellent passing, clever movement, and a growing understanding of the game.
The match was an end-to-end affair with moments of pure brilliance from both sides. Volodymyr Lehostaiev shone with a brace, and Ilias Karamalis and Nachiket Alathukattil each netted a goal. Ilias's goal was a standout moment—a brilliant, long-range effort scored from an impossible angle after a powerful run that covered nearly the entire length of the pitch. Volodymyr's first goal was the result of a beautiful interplay with Cormac Hughes, while his second came from individual brilliance following a smart pass from Justas Vaizgiela. Nachiket's goal was a testament to the team's high-pressing game; he stole the ball from a defender and slotted it home with a sharp finish.
The standout performances, however, came from the dynamic midfield duo of Nachiket and Ilias. Their lung-bursting runs, both forward to drive attacks and back to support the defense, were a joy to watch. Tadhg Lambe and Ben Doyle provided a solid defensive foundation, allowing the rest of the team to push forward. Justas Vaizgiela also deserves a shoutout for a clean sheet in his first half as goalkeeper, and Cormac Hughes was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself, denied only by a brilliant St. Anthony's goalkeeper.
St. Anthony's grew more threatening as the match wore on and showed their quality in the second half by getting on the score sheet a few times. It was a very well-fought and entertaining match between two very good sides. All the boys from both teams should be proud of their performances.
A big thank you to St. Anthony's for a brilliant game and their hospitality. We look forward to hosting them for the return match and wish them all the best for the rest of the season!
