Westwood FC v Glasgow Irish FC

Glasgow Irish were at Toryglen this Sunday against Westwood FC who were unbeaten in Division 2 in their opening 3 fixtures up to this point.

With no fewer than 8 players missing through injury The Irish were up against it before a ball was kicked.

From the first minute of the game GIFC were up for this and went at Westwood at pace from the word go.

Paul Ruby and Tony Deveney were causing the opposing defence all sorts of issues with clever running in behind the defence.

GIFC went ahead on 7 mins when after collecting a pass from Deveney, Kevin Barr seen his shot land at Paul Ruby’s feet and from 8 yards he slotted the ball under the Westwood keeper for a goal on his second debut for the club. 0-1

The Irish could smell blood and doubled the lead on 12 mins when Tony Deveney crossed for Jay McCann to side foot home at the back post. The 17 year old making a very difficult chance look easy. 0-2

GIFC continued to press and Deveney should have scored on a couple of occasions as The Irish looked to kill the game off early and Paul Ruby seen a couple of efforts come close.

To Westwood’s credit they kept at it and found their footing in the game with some nice passing around midfield.

They got back in the game with 10 mins left of the first half when the Irish defence went to sleep and the Westwood forward broke free to round O’Donnell for a fine finish. 1-2

The Irish responded immediately and Tony Deveney cut in from the left wing and sent a superb shot curling into the far top corner with the Westwood keeper making no attempt to save. The Gorbals Vampire with a stunning strike. 1-3

GIFC almost got a fourth when they were awarded a penalty but for Jack Gordon to see his effort from the spot saved well by the Westwood number 1.

HT:1-3

The second half followed the same narrative as the first with GIFC creating chance after chance and a mixture of good goalkeeping and poor finishing meant GIFC never added to the lead.

Singh, Verdejo, McCahill and Paterson all got some minutes as GIFC continued to dominate proceedings.

Westwood pulled a goal back in the final minute but it was all too little too late.

FT:2-3

GIFC: Owen O’Donnell, Chris Hopkins, Cameron McIntyre (c)(Juan Carlos Verdejo, Shaun McCafferty, Ciaran English, Jay McCann(Mark Paterson), Kevin Barr, Jack Gordon(Daniel Singh), Tony Deveney, Tony Garth, Paul Ruby(Aidan McCahill)

A score line a lot closer than the game suggested as The Irish should have been far and away out of sight with the chances created.

Next week we face the same opponents in a cup game away from home yet again.

Acacia Coaches Man of The Match this week was shared by both Kevin Barr and Tony Deveney

Massive thanks to our sponsors Malones Glasgow for the continued support and hospitality.

Mon The Irish 🇮🇪

Glasgow Irish FC v Fernhill United

GDSFC Division 2 Matchday 3

Glasgow Irish FC faced Fernhill at Ralston yesterday evening looking to build on an impressive victory the previous week on league duty.

Yet again the Irish seen the squad change through injury and unavailability for various reasons meaning that the same starting 11 still hasn’t been selected in consecutive games for GIFC the entire season so far.

Fernhill came out of the traps at speed and started to put serious pressure on the Irish defence and Owen O’Donnell had 2 outstanding saves inside the first 10 mins to keep the scores level.

Irish couldn’t get out of their own half and Fernhill took the lead when Paterson was punished after a poor attempt at a clearance allowed Fernhill to steal in and score. 0-1

This seemed to sting The Irish into action and Tony Deveney seen his effort saved after a decent run and shot.

Fernhill were always dangerous on the break but Cameron McIntyre was equal to everything alongside Shaun McCafferty at the back.

McIntyre time and time again winning balls when the odds looked stacked against him then turning defence into attack with a series of superb through balls from deep positions.

Ciaran English and Chris Hopkins in the full back positions were also stand out performers as the first half drew to a close.

HT:0-1

There was to be no panic from GIFC at half time as the progress was clear to see the more the first half had gone on.

Grant Clark replaced Mark Paterson at half time and lasted all of 5 mins before he suffered ankle ligament damage in a 50/50 challenge.

Ciaran Murray replaced Clark and bizarrely suffered the same fate 6-7 mins after entering the game.

Aidan McCahill then came on for GIFC and settled well straight away on the right side of midfield.

The Irish were in control now and levelled the game when Cameron McIntyre sent over an inviting cross which seen Kevin Barr time his run to perfection before controlling the ball and firing a volley past the Fernhill keeper.

A well deserved goal for both Barr and GIFC. 1-1

GIFC were now in the ascendancy and took the lead 5 mins later when Aidan McCahill sent Irish frontman Tony Garth through on goal and from a tight angle the striker cracked the ball into the roof of the net to send the Irish ahead.

Another goal of real quality from the GIFC striker. 2-1

GIFC had expended some real effort yet again and Hopkins was replaced by McCann as yet another injury took its toll on an already strained squad.

Fernhill capitalised as GIFC legs grew weary and equalised when they were let through on goal far too easily. 2-2

The Irish were more than worthy of a point at least but failed to hold out to the final whistle and when Fernhill found a second wind GIFC were left wanting.

O’Donnell spilled the ball at the feet of a Fernhill forward following a free kick into the GIFC penalty area to give Fernhill the lead again and ultimately the three points. 2-3

A gutting end to the game for The Irish but a performance these players can be immensely proud of.

The game itself was a credit to both teams and a superb advert for the GDSFC league for anyone watching.

Impresive on the day for GIFC were Shaun McCafferty, Owen O’Donnell, Ciaran English, Kevin Barr and Tony Deveney.

Acacia Coaches Man of The Match was Cameron McIntyre who put in a level of performance that hasn’t been matched in the short history of GIFC so far.

GIFC: Owen O’Donnell, Chris Hopkins (Jay McCann), Shaun McCafferty, Cameron McIntyre, Ciaran English, Tony Deveney, Jack Gordon, Kevin Barr, Daniel Singh(c), Mark Paterson (Grant Carr) (Ciaran Murray) (Aidan McCahill)

A huge thank you to our sponsors Malones Glasgow for the continued hospitality and support.

Mon The Irish 🇮🇪

Stratton Southside v Glasgow Irish FC

GDSFC Division 2 Matchday 2

The Irish were away from home this week against Stratton who had enjoyed a very successful first half of the campaign finishing second in Division 2A before the New Year split so GIFC were fully aware of the task ahead of them prior to the match.

A very poor result in Matchday 1 meant confidence was low heading into the fixture for the Irish.

From the first whistle GIFC showed a hunger to impose themselves on the game and the effort and commitment shown in the opening period showed the potential this team has in abundance.

Tony Garth was rampant across the pitch for the Irish and set the tone for an outstanding performance.

On 15 mins it was Garth who opened the scoring when he collected the ball on the left wing before turning inside and firing the ball into the far top corner of the net from 25 yards for an early goal of the season contender. 0-1

Stratton always looked dangerous though and levelled only 5 mins later when GIFC keeper Owen O’Donnell seen a brave clearance fall to a Stratton midfielder 35 yards out and he sent the ball sailing over O’Donnell into the net despite the keepers best efforts to get back to his line. 1-1

This didn’t stifle the Irish effort though and they took the lead again when Tony Garth chased a lost cause down and got a dangerous cross in from the corner flag which seen a Stratton defender bundle the ball over his own goal line. 1-2

A fortuitous goal for GIFC but well deserved for the endeavour shown.

Stratton piled on the pressure but a back four of McCann, Grimes, Miller and McIntyre we’re firm throughout the first half.

The third soon arrived for GIFC and it was a thing of beauty.

Mark Paterson sent over an inviting corner and Tony Garth won a header which deflected to the edge of the box.

Jack Gordon shaped up and sent an unstoppable right footed volley into the roof of the net for a stunning strike. 1-3

Great technique from the GIFC midfielder and an just rewards for what was a superb performance in midfield all afternoon.

HT:1-3

The intensity and work rate GIFC had shown in the first half would have required a superhuman effort to sustain and understandably they ran out of some gas in the second half.

Stratton scored their second of the game after a slick passing move from back to front. 2-3

GIFC keeper Owen O’Donnell pulled off a string of superb saves inside a 20 min period of the second half to keep the Irish in front.

In midfield Kevin Barr and Jack Gordon seemed to be everywhere with Barr winning almost 100% of his headers on the day and covering runners all over the pitch.

Singh, Hopkins, Clark and McCafferty were introduced for the Irish and the away side grew back into the game as Stratton pushed for an equaliser.

Tony Deveney was impressive out wide all day and the Irish forward could have had two goals but for some lacklustre finishing late on in the second period.

The Irish seen the game out to claim the first 3 points in Division 2 despite some serious pressure from the home side.

FT:2-3

All the best to Stratton for the rest of the league campaign.

GIFC: Owen O’Donnell, Jay McCann (Chris Hopkins), Gary Grimes, Kevin Miller, Cameron McIntyre (Shaun McCafferty), Tony Deveney, Kevin Barr, Jack Gordon, Mark Paterson (Grant Clark), Tony Garth, Chris Gillespie (Daniel Singh), Aidan McCahill.

Acacia Coaches Man of The Match Owen O’Donnell

A huge thank you to our sponsors Malones Glasgow for the continued hospitality and support.

Mon The Irish 🇮🇪