It was a competitive outing for our U13 B team yesterday as they made the short trip to face Rathnew. While the result ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance.

Rathnew started the stronger of the two sides, using the wind at their backs to pile on early pressure. It took our lads some time to settle into the game, which is understandable given this is a brand-new team playing 11-a-side football for the very first time.

The effort from the entire squad was brilliant throughout. Amin Mohammed and Aidan Hughes both stood out for Rovers, putting in two excellent individual performances that kept us in the contest.

A special mention goes to Jake Flynn, who marked his return from a long-term injury by taking his goal exceptionally well. Seeing him back on the scoresheet is a fantastic boost for the team.

It is still very early days for this group, but the signs are incredibly positive as they adapt to the full pitch. We look forward to seeing this team grow in the coming weeks!