Photographs courtesy of Liam Mulcahy
Two cracking goals within four minutes late in the
first half were enough to grab the points today and stretch Belmont’s unbeaten run to ten. Played on a cold tough pitch by cold tough under 8 players, Belmont showed courage under pressure to win against a Granada team bursting with talent and pace. So, no clichés there anyway.
Belmont started brightly enough with their usual 2-3-1 setup including Sherwin in goal, Sheehan 
and Cloonan in defence, Booth, Mulcahy and Fahy in midfield and Boggan in attack. Despite a lack of match practice, they made the early running with some neat passing from defence to attack via a strong midfield. Fahy’s passing game, especially, has come on greatly over the past two games and he made his Granada opponents dizzy at times with his classy dribbling and ace flicks. The Belmont players had as many 
as six shots on goal in as many minutes, but the final touch eluded them on each occasion before Fahy finally shot in from five meters. Less than four minutes later, a through ball from Mulcahy found Cuddy in space inside the six yard box. You won’t find this Belmont legend showboating or busting out crazy tricks, but his classy control, turn and snapshot into the top right corner of the net was typical of this awesome athlete. 
Sherwin had little to do in goal, but 
what he did he did well. Cloonan and Sheehan were defensive rocks as usual while Boggan’s work rate was breath-taking and he was unlucky not to score at least once in the first half. Mulcahy, also, was a powerhouse in midfield, tackling like a demon and apparently tricking past defenders at will. Overall, this was a team playing as well as they possibly could on a frosty,
frozen pitch against tough opposition. Shortly before half time, McNulty came on in attack. Her silky skills at beating defenders were wicked and she, too, was unlucky on a number of occasions in front of goal. Two nil to Belmont at half-time, but with some tired legs and sore knees out there. 
The start of the second half saw Dempsey come on to freshen up the attack as a roaming striker 
as Sheehan retired to goal with Sherwin coming into left midfield. Booth was working wonders down the right and he regularly destroyed the Granada midfield with his jinking runs and passing skills. Dempsey was also working hard up front but with no goal to reward him for his fine efforts. Time and time again the Belmont midfield struck at the Granada defence, but on each occasion a flailing Granada boot cleared the danger. Then a sucker punch as the Belmont managers urged their team ever forward leaving their defence undermanned. A breakaway strike from Granada found one of their midfield men unmarked and a quick run followed by a powerful shot left the game wide open at two 
one to Belmont. This correspondent can only say that it’s fortunate for Gaffers Mulcahy and Boggan that they still have day jobs since they continue to show a mind-numbing lack of inventiveness or intelligence on the sideline. Rafael Benitez needn’t worry about either of these two blockheads supplanting him any time soon! 
The last two minutes of the match were tense, but Belmont held their shape well
to run out as deserved winners. Manager Boggan said afterwards “I know it seems like stating the obvious to say that we are in a different league, but the step up in opposition quality is noticeable and we are having to work very hard to come away with results. I’m proud of our whole team and it’s clear that our squad system is beginning to function well. However, I’m conscious that this is a work in progress and that we need to continually reassess our tactics. It’s important that we achieve our true potential as a team while also giving our players the 
opportunity to shine as individuals. This will require a complex balancing act, but that’s our task.” Manager Mulcahy later said “I wish that the lads would start winning by four and five goals again. My ticker can’t take many more of these tight games!”
A cricket ground but not a cricket score as the newly promoted Belmont A and took on Beechwood in a pulsating match with end to end action. The long break due to the appalling weather had taken its toll on the kids who battled heroically, though at times Belmont looked unfit and lacking in assured confidence. The standard of play was of a level that we had seen in our previous most competitive encounters and so this new league brings a step up in the challenge. At this stage there are players who have established themselves as the natural choices for certain positions and others who have developed a long way but have more to do. The timing of our matches this year will continue to present challenges for the team members who combine activities and this was apparent at the weekend with tiredness apparent very quickly. We have the nucleus of a very strong team and one which can be very competitive in this higher division. The key from here will be to bring on all the players confidence and skills up to a new level.
The whistle blew on the new season took on a very cold dull and dank day against a well drilled and able opposition. Beechwood may, on previous form , be one of the toughest opponents that we have to face as they were runners up in Division 3 pre Christmas. Some of our other new oppostion have dropped down from Division 1 and Division 2.
As usual it was the Managers who took matters into their own hands and could not resist interfering with the formation of the team just to add some extra spice and excitement.
Suddenly the referee points to the penalty spot , John Mulcahy having been tackled in the box was directed to take the penalty himself. Too late for the management to realise that poor John had actually been hurt in the tackle and was too sore to blast the ball with the accuracy normally expected. On and on the minutes ticked by , Belmont growing in confidence again took the upper hand with plenty of posssession though were regularly stretched by Beechwood who were quick on the break. Beechwood as a team were better at attacking and slightly weaker in defence so it was always a risk to throw our players forward. The loyal fans of Belmont were vocal in support of the team , a handball not being spotted with five minutes to go was greeted with howls by the supporters but the kids played on. Eighteen minutes of the second half played and manager Mulcahy turned to his counterpart Boggan and said 'I think we might be going down here and its our own fault…'
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