Rathcoole FC Triumph Over Firhouse Carmel In Thrilling Clash

Rathcoole FC - over 35s faced off against Firhouse Carmel o35s in a gripping league encounter at their home ground in Rathcoole on 13 May 2025. The match kicked off at 8:00pm and ended with a scoreline of 2-1 in favour of Rathcoole, showcasing a spirited performance from both sides.

Rathcoole adopted a 3-4-1-2 formation, which allowed them to maintain a solid defensive structure while also providing width and creativity in midfield. Chris McGlynn manned the goal, shielded by a trio of defenders: Gary Ryan in the centre, flanked by Adrian Whelan on the right and Simon Doyle on the left. The midfield was anchored by Luke Keegan and Will Moran in central roles, with Johnny Paun and Paul Moran providing width on the right and left respectively. Up front, Ken Browne and Beano Corrigan formed a dynamic partnership, supported by the attacking prowess of Tiago Faria.

The substitutes for Rathcoole included Des McGrath, Phil Leddy, David Doyle, Sammi Idris, and Colly O'Neil, who would later play pivotal roles in the match.

The match began with an early attempt from Tiago Faria in the fifth minute, but his effort went wide, signalling Rathcoole's intent to attack. However, the game took a turn in the 24th minute when Gary Ryan received a yellow card for dissent, putting Rathcoole on the back foot. Just a minute later, Firhouse Carmel capitalised on the momentum, converting a penalty to take a 1-0 lead.

In response, Rathcoole made a tactical substitution in the 37th minute, bringing on Des McGrath for Ken Browne. This change proved crucial as just a minute later, McGrath had a chance to equalise but unfortunately missed a penalty, leaving the scoreline unchanged. However, the tide turned in the 39th minute when Johnny Paun found the back of the net, levelling the score at 1-1 just before half-time.

As the second half commenced, Rathcoole made another substitution, introducing David Doyle for Tiago Faria in the 53rd minute. The match continued to be fiercely contested, and in the 58th minute, Adrian Whelan received a yellow card, adding to Rathcoole's disciplinary woes.

The breakthrough for Rathcoole came in the 61st minute when Des McGrath, who had earlier missed a penalty, redeemed himself by scoring a goal, assisted by David Doyle. This put Rathcoole ahead 2-1, igniting celebrations among the home fans.

In the 67th minute, Rathcoole made two more substitutions, bringing on Sammi Idris for Paul Moran and Colly O'Neil for Luke Keegan, as they sought to maintain their lead. The final moments of the match saw Rathcoole defend resolutely against Firhouse Carmel's attempts to equalise, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory.

The match concluded with Rathcoole FC emerging victorious, demonstrating resilience and tactical acumen in a match that will be remembered for its intensity and drama.