The last time Glasgow Irish FC had taken part in an organised game was in March 2020 and after repeated attempts to get onto the field, approval was finally given to face Partizan Glasgow this Sunday evening at Ravenscraig.
The Irish had endured a stop/start pre season with Government Restrictions dictating the details of our training practices. So it was a pleasure to eventually get the green light to come up against a club with a very similar ethos to ourselves.
The time since the last fixture for GIFC has seen some changes in playing staff with the likes of Tony Owens, Aidan McCahill and Liam McFadden departing the Irish set up for various reasons. A huge thanks to these players for the service throughout their time at the club.
On the other hand we have seen Declan Cleary, Jay Mathieson, Kyle McCabe, Jack McNeil, Richard Coral and Jamie McGuinness come into the squad along with the welcoming back of Drew Keating and the imminent return of Steven Craven. There are also 2-3 with an eye on coming aboard so there is an optimism around the club at the moment.
There has also been a reshuffle at management level with Richard McCabe, Chris Gillespie, Jim Shovelin, Daniel Singh and Juan Carlos Verdejo stepping up to a collective Coaching Staff with Paul Mulgrew having to step aside for the time being due to work commitments.
Partizan Glasgow FC v Glasgow Irish FC
Sunday 27/9/20
The Irish started the game on the front foot this evening and a cross from Cammy McIntyre seen the Partizan keeper fail to deal with the ball well only for no one from GIFC alert enough to take advantage.
Partizan are a well drilled side and showed as much with a clinical first half display and they went ahead on 10 mins when The Irish defence never dealt with a cross ball and Owen O’Donnell was beaten with a first time strike. 1-0.
The second was soon to come for Partizan and arrived when GIFC failed to deal with a corner to concede cheaply. 2-0.
Two goals down inside 15 mins and it was to get worse for GIFC on 23 mins when another delivery from a wide area wasn’t cut out by the Irish defence allowing the Partizan player to score with ease. 3-0.
Tony Garth eventually tested the Partizan keeper with Jay McCann just missing out on the follow up.
On 35 mins GIFC got a lifeline when Drew Keating found Kevin Barr from a free kick and the midfielder headed home for a nice finish to the first half. 3-1.
HT:3-1.
On 55 mins Paul Ruby seen a free kick creep over the bar as The Irish started to impose themselves on the game.
60 mins Deveney on for McCann, Cleary on for Singh
Tony Deveney almost scored straight away when he seen his header go wide from a McIntyre delivery on 70 mins.
71 mins Paterson on for Ruby, Stafford on for Gillespie
On 72 mins Sean Stafford made an immediate impact when he fired home from a McIntyre cross. The Man with the Moustache with his first goal in Irish colours. 3-2.
82 mins Mathieson on for Garth
86 mins McCafferty on for McIntyre, McCabe on for Ryan
On 88 minutes Partizan scored again to finish the game off. 4-2.
GIFC will take plenty of positives from this evening and try to cut out the silly errors moving forward.
Acacia Coaches Man of The Match was Drew Keating.
A big Thank you to Partizan Glasgow for the game and we wish them all the very best going forward.
Celtic Hammer 