Rangers shine in glorious weather

NDSL Under 8 Premier Division

Rivervalley Rangers………4
Glebe North………………….0


Rivervalley ran out comfortable winners in this league game in Rivervalley Park on a bright Saturday morning. Rangers created a host of early chances with Carl Rooney, Matthew Kinahan and Louise O’Shea all going close inside the opening 10 minutes and it was O’Shea who eventually opened the scoring. A ball out from the back by Killian Shortt found Robert Campbell in the middle. He threaded a neat pass through to O’Shea on the edge of the box who took one touch and hammered it into net leaving the keeper no chance.


The second goal followed on 15 minutes after a scramble in the Glebe area. Jamie Britnell eventually controlling the ball and laying it square into the path of Campbell, for him to tap home from 6 yards.

The pick of the goals was the third coming just before half time. The ball started out with David Murray in the Rangers goal. His clearance was collected by Campbell who found Bradley Rogers on the left. His well weighted square ball was met full on by Britnell who smashed into the top corner from outside the box.
Into the second half and the chances continued to come with Campbell, Rogers and Owen Kelly all going close, with Kelly pulling a fine save out of the Glebe keeper with a well placed free-kick that was heading for the top corner. It was after that resulting corner that Rangers scored their fourth goal. Campbell took a quick short corner to Kelly whose cross was collected at the far post by Kinahan, who fired the ball back across the box, where Rogers controlled it beautifully before slotting it past the keeper.
Rivervalley Rangers: David Murray, Carl Rooney, Killian Shortt, Jamie Britnell, Matthew Kinahan(c), Louise O’Shea, Robert Campbell, Owen Kelly, Bradley Rogers. Managers: Paul Kelly & Jason Rogers

Rivervalley shatter Glebe's cup hopes

Under 8 (Prem/A) EAMONN LUDDEN CUP Semi Final

A GOAL inside three minutes sent Rivervalley Rangers' Under-8 Premier team on their way to victory in Saturday's Eamon Ludden Cup semi-final.

Rangers were very quick out of the blocks when, from Bradley Rogers' corner, the ball broke loose to Robert Campbell who duly obliged from eight yards out.

Glebe fought back well to claim an equaliser before the break, but a re-energised Rangers returned after the break to go back in front. Campbell won possession on the edge of the box and then rolled the ball to Owen Kelly who duly fired into the bottom corner.

Kelly's goal seemed to relax Rangers as they created a series of chances, with Matthew Kinahan, Louise O'Shea, Kelly and Rogers all going close to increasing the lead.

Their pressure finally paid off when Campbell found Jamie Britnell on the edge of the area and he duly drilled his shot into the net, leaving the keeper no chance.

Glebe continued their search for a goal but were thwarted by Carl Rooney and Killian Shortt in the Rangers defence and David Murray in goal. The fourth and final goal came from an Owen Kelly corner. The ball eventually fell kindly into the path of Rogers who duly dispatched it into the corner of the net.

RIVERVALLEY RANGERS: David Murray, Carl Rooney, Killian Shortt, Jamie Britnell, Matthew Kinahan (capt), Louise O'Shea, Robert Campbell, Owen Kelly, Bradley Rogers. Managers: Paul Kelly, Jason Rogers.

Rogers sinks Knock with super treble

Wednesday November 04 2009
BRADLEY Rogers scored a hat-trick for Rivervalley Rangers as they came out 5-2 winners against top-of-the table Castleknock Celtic on Saturday morning in Rivervalley Park.
Rangers, although conceding an early goal, drew level on 13 minutes when Jamie Britnell after some great work down the right fed the ball into Rogers. Rogers then shifted the ball onto his right foot before drilling an unstoppable shot into the keeper's bottom corner
Further chances fell Rivervalley's way after that with Matthew Kinahan, Robert Campbell and Owen Kelly all coming close. But they eventually got the breakthrough their play deserved just before halftime when Carl Rooney found Louise O'Shea with a pass through the middle. She laid the ball off to Rogers on the left and his hard left-footed shot back across the keeper found the corner of the net.
Shortly after the turnaround it was 3-1 when Kinahan cleaned up from five yards out off Kelly's corner. Two minutes after that a terrific run from inside his own half by Carl Rooney freed Kelly whose first time shot was blocked by the keeper. Rogers, however, showed lightening reactions to slot home the rebound with Kinahan converting from the edge of the box following good work by Shortt and Kelly to make it five.
Castleknock to their credit battled bravely but were continually thwarted by Rooney and Shortt. And on the occasions they did manage to find a way past, Rivervalley keeper, David Murray, was on hand to pull off a string of fine saves.
The visitors did eventually manage to grab a consolation goal with two minutes to go but it was Rangers who deservedly took the points.

Kelly treble nicks a point for the Valley

Wednesday October 28 2009

OWEN Kelly scored a hat-trick for Rivervalley Rangers as they fought out a superb 3-3 draw with Woodlawn in Sportslink on Saturday. Both teams played some cracking football as the game swayed from end to end on a bright morning.

Woodlawn were first off the mark after five minutes as Dylan O'Neill scored with a well placed shot from the edge of the box.

Rangers struck back five minutes later as Robert Campbell played the ball square to Kelly who placed his shot into the bottom corner.

There were chances at either end as both teams looked to take the advantage and only for good saves from David Murray for Rangers and Craig McKeon for Woodlawn the score could have been higher.

Jamie Britnell then took over in goal from Murray and it was Rangers who went in with the lead, scoring their second just before half-time after a fantastic move.

Britnell played the ball out to Carl Rooney and he found Matthew Kinahan in the centre. He found Louise O'Shea out on the right and she fed Robert Campbell in the centre.

He played a lovely weighted ball out to the left for Bradley Rogers who got to the touchline and swung the ball across for Kelly to tuck it away from six yards.

In the second half and Woodlawn flew out of the traps, testing Britnell twice in the first three minutes. The home sidegot the equaliser their pressure deserved after a short corner between Nathan Fallon and Brandon Holt. Dylan O'Neill crossed the ball over and Oisin Gannon put the ball away with a strong header.

Britnell then pulled off a superb save to his right as Woodlawn continued to press and Rooney made a good clearing header to keep the score at 2-2.

The game continued to go from end to end and Woodlawn got themselves back into the lead after another good move. Dillon Woods played the ball to Lee Troy and he found Robert Kiely in the middle. He played in Gannon out wide and his cross was met by O'Neill who put his header into the right hand corner.

With eight minutes left Rangers upped their game and pushed for the equaliser and it duly arrived as Kelly completed his hat-trick.

Killian Shortt found Rogers on the left, he played in Campbell who laid the ball off to Kelly and to slot his shot into the bottom corner to level the scores at 3-3.

That's five goals in his last three games and 13 in seven so far this season for the striker.

Rangers pushed on looking for the winner and came close, with Rogers and Campbell both testing McKeon in the Woodlawn goal. Both teams had chances in the last few minutes but a draw was a fair result.

Kelly hits a hat-trick as Rangers smash 7

Howth Celtic 0 - 7 Rivervalley Rangers

Owen Kelly scored a 2nd half hat-trick as Rivervalley Rangers continued their good form with a comfortable 7-0 win in this U8 Prem/A Cup match at Grace O’Malley Park on Saturday morning. Four wins out of four see them clear at the top of their group having scored 26 goals, conceding only 2.

Conditions weren’t ideal with a strong wind blowing and Howth Celtic won the toss and decided to play the first half with the wind at their back. However, Rangers kept the ball on the ground and played some neat passing football that got its reward after 8 minutes in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Jamie Britnell took a throw in deep inside the Howth half finding the ever reliable Matthew Kinahan on the left. He beat his marker and got to the touchline and whipped in a good cross behind the defenders. The keeper went down at his near post to make the save but the ball bounced off his shin and into the net.

There was nothing lucky about the 2nd goal however as Carl Rooney laid the ball off to Kinahan who turned and went past his marker and then played in Louise O’Shea, who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner.

Into the 2nd half and with the wind now with them, Rangers flew out of the traps. Killian Shortt found Robert Campbell through the middle and he quickly laid the ball off to O’Shea on the right wing. She fed Kelly who turned inside his marker and buried his shot into the net.

Campbell then had to leave the field after taking a bad knock on the leg. He was taken to hospital as a precaution but fortunately just has some swelling on his knee and should be fine.

Kelly’s 2nd goal followed quickly after as Justin Wan found Bradley Rogers out on the left. He cut inside two defenders and played a neat one-two with Kinahan, got to the goal-line and pulled the ball back to Kelly who tapped it home from 5 yards.

Howth then got into the game and only for some fine work from Rooney at the back and David Murray in the Rivervalley goal, could have pulled one back. After making a good save down to his left Murray kicked the ball halfway down the pitch to Kelly. He played a neat through ball to Britnell who found Rogers on the edge of the box and his well hit shot beat the keeper at his near post to make it 5.

Britnell himself grabbed the 6th after another superb flowing move. Kelly picked up the ball at halfway, turned and found Rogers on the edge of the box. He drove towards the touchline and whipped a cross over the defence to the far post that found Kinahan. He laid the ball back to Britnell on the corner of the box and he smashed his shot into the top corner.

Kelly then completed his hat-trick after more good work down the left. Kinahan and Rogers played a series of one-two’s down the wing before Rogers found Kelly in the middle of the area. He took one touch and tucked the ball away into the bottom corner.

Rivervalley Rangers: David Murray, Carl Rooney, Killian Shortt, Jamie Britnell, Matthew Kinahan, Louise O’Shea, Robert Campbell, Owen Kelly, Bradley Rogers, Justin Wan
Managers: Paul Kelly & Jason Rogers.

Goals flowing in the valley

Wednesday September 30 2009

Rivervalley Rangers 4 - 1 Skerries Town

THE goals continue to flow for Rangers after a 4-1 win over Skerries Town. However, Rivervalley manager Jason Rogers admitted it was no foregone conclusion. Matthew Kinahan, who was played in the centre of midfield, kicked off the scoring for Rivervalley with last week's hat-trick hero, Louise O'Shea, continuing her rich vein of form with a header at the near post to double her team's lead.
Skerries Town then pulled one back with David Murray pulling off a series of fine saves for the home side. And having weathered the Skerries Town storm, Rivervalley Rangers then sealed the points with a second-half brace from Bradley Rogers.

Matthew the hero as Gers hit the dozen

Rivervalley Rangers 12 – 0 Ashbourne Utd

Matthew Kinahan put in a display way above his years as Rivervalley Rangers ran out comfortable 12-0 winners in this NDSL under 8 Premier/A section match in Rivervalley.
Playing in midfield instead of his usual position of defence, Kinahan put in a commanding display of tackling, passing and finishing as Rangers shot out of the blocks to take control from the start going 3-0 up inside the first 5 minutes.
Kinahan played a lovely through ball to Robert Campbell in the Ashbourne box, he took one touch before feeding Owen Kelly who fired the ball home from 10 yards. Ashbourne kicked off and Kinahan raced in to win the ball and drove into the box. The ball broke to Campbell who beat one defender before placing his shot into the bottom corner. Within seconds of the restart, Campbell had latched onto a pass from Jamie Britnell, fed Kinahan in the box and he smashed his shot into the top corner for 3-0.
Ashbourne, shaken by the sudden start then got their first shot on goal only to be denied by a good save from David Murray at his near post. The fourth goal came from the resulting kick out as Murray found Bradley Rogers who played the ball square to Kelly who flicked the ball into the air, solo’d it once and turned and hammered it into the roof of the net from well outside the box.
The pressure from Rangers continued as Carl Rooney ventured forward from defence, took a shot from the edge of the box which the keeper could only parry, and Kinahan pounced on the loose ball for his 2nd and his team’s 5th.
Kinahan was then involved in the next goal as he laid a lovely weighted ball into the path of Louise O’Shea at the far post and she finished it off calmly placing the ball under the keeper. O’Shea then grabbed the seventh and her 2nd just before half time after more good work from Kinahan. He found Campbell on the right, who swung in the cross to O’Shea and she fired it into the net from close range.
The half time break did nothing to relieve the pressure as O’Shea completed her hat-trick after the re-start. Justin Wan laid the ball off to Killian Shortt who found the tireless Campbell just outside the box. His shot was well saved by the keeper but O’Shea was on hand to tap the ball home.
Rogers then got his name on the score sheet after latching onto a through ball from Kelly and rifling it into the far corner. Kelly himself then completed his hat-trick as Campbell rolled the ball across the edge of the box and he hit his left foot shot in the bottom corner to make it 10. Rogers added his 2nd picking the ball up from Kinahan just inside the Ashbourne half. He ran into the box and fired the ball across the keeper giving him no chance.
Kinahan and Campbell had the final say as the two combined down the right. Kinahan laid the ball into Campbell’s feet from six yards out and he slotted the ball into the net.

Rivervalley Rangers : David Murray, Carl Rooney, Killian Shortt, Jamie Britnell, Matthew Kinahan (c) 2, Louise O’Shea 3, Robert Campbell 2, Owen Kelly 3, Bradley Rogers 2, Justin Wan.
Managers: Paul Kelly & Jason Rogers.