Barnet Galaxy V London Irish - (League)

On a very warm Sunday morning the first league game of the season for London Irish FC 1st team Vs Barnet Galaxy. Weather it was the weather or the late kick off, Irish started really slower and found themselves 1-0 down after just 5 mintues. A long ball from Barnets centre half saw their striker run through, Irish centre half Darren Morley could only do one thing and that was bring the striker down in the box, with a clumsier half hearted tackle. Barnets number 7 stood up and calmly sending the Irish keeper the wrong way. London Irish were still slow of the blocks and didn't seem like threatening the opposite goalie. Poor defending between Darren Morley and Billy O'Mahoney from a set play saw the ball drop to Galaxy's number 10, he turned and hit a wonder strike that left the Irish number 1 stranded. Strong words from Manager Mark Kirby was defiantly in order and with 10 minutes left till the end of the first half, a long free kick taken by the Irish number 1 saw John 'the touch' Mullen go one on one with the keeper, he rounded the on coming goalie and calmly slotted the ball into the net. With just 2 minutes left on the clock till the end of the half, neat play by Luke Tousson and Stefan Rees saw Trevor McCarthy smash the ball from a tight angle in of the post. At half time manager Mark Kirby gifted words of wisdom to his players and wanted his team to replicate the football he saw a week prior.

The second half kicked off and within 3 minutes the Irish were 3-2 down. A long ball from the back deluded the Irish defensive and Morley for the 2nd time in the game pulled down Galaxy's centre forward. Barnets number 7 decided to put it in the same corner and the Irish keeper guessed the right way but his out stretched hand narrowly missing the ball. Manager Mark Kirby made 2 changes to try and affect the game. He brought himself on and other sub Austin Sweeney replacing John McCarthy and Luke Tousson. With 15 minutes on the clock Irish kept plugging away and half chances fell to the Irish front line. With the score still at 3-2, Irish didn't think they would pull 1 back. But a moment of true class from Trevor McCarthy, Mark Kirby and John Mullen would produce proberly the best goal of the season. A throw on deep into the Galaxy half saw McCarthy volley the ball to Kirby who took the ball on his chest and gave a one-two with the Irish winger who intern passed the ball forward to Mullen who neatly back healed it dead to a on coming kirby who wiped the ball around the defending from 20 yards into the bottom corner, with the Galaxy keeper having no chance getting to the ball. 3-3 and the Irish pushing for the 4th goal and the winner! Good passing from Rees and Scelini gave Kirby a neat through ball on the left who swerved the ball to the back post to Mullen whose first touch resembled Dennis Bergkamp in his prime, saw him control the ball dead with his knee and he was left the job just to beat the goalie and that he didn't disappoint, with his left foot he calmly placed the ball around the goalie into the bottom corner. 4-3 with 2 minutes on the clock, manager Mark Kirby insisted everyone just clear the ball down field into the corners, but sloppy play from Matt Simmons gave Galaxy a corner, Galaxy slung everyone forward and from the corner a header was flicked on to a unmarked player who header the ball in of the cross bar. A disappointing end to a hard fought battle from the Irish.

  Hanwell Celtic 4 V 6 London Irish - (League)

London Irish first team restored the pride and glory into the club, with the first win in the league this campaign. With a draw and a defeat there other results it was third time lucky for London Irish FC. Second Team Manager Shane Gavin deputised for absent First Team Manager Mark Kirby in the away fixture to Hanwell Celtic FC. An injured Goalkeeper meant Manager Shane Gavin went between the sticks for his side.
Irish were buoyant before the game and looked the part with a new White away strip courtesy of Electrical firm Bright Spark Solutions.

Irish attacked from Kick off but quick counter attack from Hanwell and a hopeful shot from 20 yards took a deflection of Irish defender Chris Phillips and lopped over Goalkeeper Gavin. But minutes later Man of the Match Gavin McLoughlin chased down a clearance which came of his back and went into the net. Hanwell were then awarded a penalty after the striker went over with no contact in the box. Stand in Keeper Shane Gavin saved the penalty pushing it onto the crossbar but sadly it fell to the feet of a Hanwell player who poked it home. Irish were then level again minutes later when Trevor McCarthy let fly from 30 yards with a bouncing volley flying into the top corner. 2-2 with 15 minutes gone wasn't the norm. Hanwell weren't finished and a cross from the right evaded the defence and slow reactions meant Hanwell had all the time they wanted to stab the ball home. But no shock and Nick Otsuka let fly with a turn and shot from the edge of the area getting the Irish level just as the first half came to a close. Hanwell were ahead for the fourth time in the game when Irish keeper was found too far of his line and was easy lobbed. But again Irish found a way back into the game when Trevor McCarthy scored his second and third with 10 minutes and Irish were ahead for the first time and started to cruse. A late goal from Paul Fitzgerald after a weaving run doubled the Irish lead and a save from Gavin in the dieing minutes was enough to give the Irish a well deserved win.

 Vs Barnet Galaxy - (League)

London Irish FC made very hard work of a valuable 4-2 League win over Barney Galaxy FC. From the kick off Irish dominated play against a lack luster 10 men Galaxy. The home team created a lot of early chances, but Galaxy's keeper was on fine form on this very cold November morning. In the first half the Irish back four stayed very strong with Luke Tousson and Darren Coyne playing especially well down both flanks. The first goal was going to come and it was just a matter of time before it did. Good work down the left from Coyne slipped in Paul Fitzgerald whose cross come shot flew into the top corner. Claims he didn't mean it, but he wasn't listening and insisted he meant it. Manager Mark Kirby ordered on that the tempo was kept high and not to let our guard down, within 7 minutes Irish made it 2. Excellent work down the right from Tousson and John McCarthy switched the ball in, the cross went right across the box deflecting of a Galaxy player for a corner, and Fitzgerald took the set piece and swung a delightful ball in for John Mullen who climbed highest to nod the ball in to make it 2 nil to the home side. It was very much one sided till half time with the Irish creating a lot of half chances, but not taking them was a key factor and the team was happy taking a lead into half time.

    Irish Manager told everyone at half time not to lose focus and to keep passing the ball. However 5 minutes into the second period, a Rory Delap style long throw was dashed into the box and a number of bodies seem to be trying to go for the ball and deflecting of Irish Captain Darren Morley saw the ball trickle into his own net. Irish now needed a bit of fight from all, but the bogey playing surface dented Irish's chances of playing the football they usually do. A mistake from Steffan Rees in the middle of the park saw a through ball fall to Galaxy's big number 10 and he didn't disappoint the away team, neatly slotting the ball past London number 1 Brendon Mulroney 2-2. All of the London team needed a lift, so Irish Manager made a sub, John McCarthy off for Mickey O'Donoghue. The London team then started to pick it up and looked like a team that wanted to win. Matt Simmons and O'Donoghue worked hard down the wings for Irish but couldn't find that cutting edge to create a goal. Irish made another inspiring sub Paul Fitzgerald off for Billy O'Mahoney and within 5 minutes that decision was worthwhile, 10 minutes left and good work from Rees in the thick of the action, saw the ball drop to O'Mahoney just outside the box. A good first touch and a superb strike saw his effort fall right in the top corner, sending the Irish team into celebration. The Irish team still needed a big last 10 minutes and great work from Matt Simmons down the left who took on four Galaxy players, ran with the ball to the by line and cut the ball back to O'Donoghue whose first time strike went straight past the away keeper. Irish saw out the remaining minutes keeping the ball securing the win.

  NLO II 4 v 2 London Irish - (League)

London Irish FC lost 4-2 on Sunday against table toppers North London Olympians FC. One a morning that brought the fours seasons in the space of an hour, Snow, Rain, Wind and Sun Shine it was bound to be an interesting game. London Irish began strong and were one nil up after 10 minutes when Trevor McCarthy set Aiden Lynam away and the youngsters pace brought him beyond the last man he drew out the keeper and an outrageous chip from 25 yards out lobbed the stranded keeper and surprised the opposition who applauded his wonder goal. Irish battled on as the rain cleared the snow and turned the pitch into ice. Minutes before half time NLO midfielder let a fierce shot go from 25 yards and Irish Keeper Brendon Mulroony couldn't handle it and it slipped under his body. Irish came out for the second half onto a bog of a pitch and had to change there usual passing game to long balls so they could get over the bog in the middle of the park. But like the Irish tactics the opposition had the same idea and before they knew it an attack on the NLO defence turned and an NLO long ball into the box and a parry by Mulroony fell for NLO to slam home. NLO 5 minutes later scored a carbon copy with a long ball in and another parry by the Irish keeper fell to NLO to slam home. 3-1 down and soaked through Irish need to raise there game. Never out of it the wasted a few chances to get themselves into the game. Things began to get niggly and Irish left back gave a penalty away at the edge of the box. The NLO captain bent the free kick with pace and Mulroony couldn't handle it and it was 4-1. Irish couldn't believe they were losing a game they never looked out of and began to fight for everything. A furious drive down the left from Ryan Scullion brought a great save from NLO keeper. But Scullion got the goal he was after. A cross from Aidan Lynam fell to Ryan Scullion who made no mistake and riffled it home just inside the area. John Mullen came close as did Lynam but tired legs and a horrid surface was all that was left at the end as Irish crashed to defeat.

Division 2

Humbled and Humiliated - 8-2 Vs Claddagh Ring

The second team were in competitive action for the first time and humbled and humiliated all in 45 minutes. London Irish FC started the game with 10 men after four players didn't show up for various reasons. Even with 10 men and they were still confident as they had such a good pre season campaign. For the first 45 minutes they battled hard and even though they were 2-0 down at the interval they had plenty of chances to still be in the game and still looked in the game. But a huge bit of luck which saw the Irish keeper clear the ball into the head of the oppositions forward and bounce into the goal meant 3-0 looked a larger task then 2-0 and then the London boys lost all belief and all shape. In the final 15 minutes of the game anyone watching the game would of witness how not to defend and how to score goals with only 4 touches. London Irish Conceded 5 goals in 15 minutes and scored 2 goals courtesy of Striker Joe Cox.

Bore Draw Take Two Vs Gwalia 2-2

London Irish FC 2^nd Team limped to a 2-2 draw in the League away to Gwalia FC after the drenched players couldn't find the heart or the legs to find the winner. Irish took the lead after 20 minutes when Shane Manogue took advantage of a defensive error to smash the ball home. Gwalia then got back into the game when Irish failed to following there men and it was easy for Gwalia to slot home just before half time. Anthony Davitt then sent Irish back into the lead with a dipping drive from the edge of the area into the bottom left hand corner. As the rain poured down on the playing fields in Willesden both teams tried to battle and the physical Gwalia found the equaliser again with a carbon copy of there first. Both teams heavy legged and with a few changes from both teams that tried to freshen things up were enough to find the winner. So they both had to settle for a point apiece.

Murphys Law Ends it for Irish - Vs Colindale Athletic FC (League)

London Irish FC 2nds lost in the Reg Ellis Cup First Round to Kenton Town FC 4-3. Goals from Martin Briody, Shane McCormack and Raplh Scully werent enough to make up for Anthony Davitts missed penalty which became costly in the end.