Ahhhh it's good to be back!
Gale force winds, stones being thrown at me, and a four goal victory that sees us into the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Cup.
It was a solid performance from an experimental City team that began with Garry Buckley as part of a back three, with wing-backs Kevin O'Connor and John Kavanagh both being looked out for need they pick up an injury early in the season. Thankfully that never transpired, and though it took the Rebel Army a bit of time to get into their stride against the Munster Senior League side, once they hit the first they never looked back.
St Mary's have been a competitive side this season, knocked out at the round of 16 in the FAI Intermediate Cup last Sunday away to Liffey Wanderers, but weren't licking their wounds, and had a few half-chances without ever troubling things. Soon it became apparent that the real driving force in City's midfield wasn't Bolger (though he did well defensively) but Conor McCormack, who was bossing this from his free role in midfield.
It was the former Shamrock Rovers man who had a big hand in City's opening, brilliant spirit by Kavanagh to keep the ball in play down the right, and he midfielder's superb whipped cross was too inviting for Jimmy Keohane to pass up, heading it into the back of the net. The Saints weren't going to give up easily though, and as the wind began to pick up they almost caught out Alan Smith with a long ball that sailed over his head, but thankfully wide of the post.
Second-half and the biting wind became storm-like as the game quickly descended into farce in front of the 150 or so frozen on the touchline. City's second was certainly wind-assisted, Kevin O'Connor's inswinging corner glancing off the head of a Mary's defender and nestling into the far corner.
City, despite the worsening conditions, actually played a little bit better in the second-half. Conor Ellis dropped slightly deeper as City returned to their usual shape and was extremely influencial, while Keohane was continuing excellent work in a Rebel Army side who were unusually positionally fluid, even taking into account pre-season conditions.
Maguire, who had been having a frustrating afternoon thus far against defenders Murphy and O'Callaghan finally bagged a goal for himself having twisted and stumbled through their defence before firing into the roof of the net. Achile Campion was introduced into the second, and despite showing rust capped the game off with a sublime curling effort with his left instep into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, as City comfortably saw the game out with little fuss.
An excellent run therefore for John Caulfield's charges, who avoided injury against a thankfully clean St Mary's side, and despite being frozen with the cold, there was much to take heart from. McCormack was really excellent, and looked controlled and measured with every touch he took, Ellis' second-half shows he brings another option to the pitch, and it was great to see John Kavanagh continue his return to fitness as he finished the last quarter of the game strongly.
Next up for the Rebel Army is Waterford away on Saturday, while for us Cobh Ramblers on in two weeks will be our next port of call.