The stage was set, it was a blustery autumn day and it was time for the big derby, between the teachers and the sixth class, they were bitter rivals. The team news is in and the big story is that Mr. C. Henry is starting. The last time they played he got a red card for taking out one of the pupils but he has had his three match ban overturned and starts in goal. Both teams are warmed up early with the teachers looking awfully anxious. Meanwhile the students looked very intimidating.
The ball was kicked off with the students having the first possession. They were passing it around very smoothly to begin with. Noah Cooper, Kyle, Ava and Ana keeping the ball away from the teachers. Eventually Mr. Curran intercepted a loose pass and put the teachers on the attack at speed, the ball was played over the top but was cleared out for a corner. Mr. Ryan whipped the corner in and Mr. O’Neill hit the crossbar with a great header. Alex the goalkeeper then played it out from the back with a strong kick but the teachers win the kick out. The sixth class worked hard to win it back with Harvey, Abbey, Ella and Carey putting in hard tackles. Ethan then turned into prime Lionel Messi and took it by everyone through the middle but Ms. Fitzgibbon fouled him and she gets a yellow card. They take the free kick. The teachers win the ball from the free kick and it gets played through to Mr. Fitzgibbon however Rían took his knees out with a dangerous slide tackle. No foul says the referee Mr. D. Henry. Shortly after that incident the ball is played over the top to Mr. O’Neill for the second time but this time he doesn’t miss with a nice volley making it 1-0 in the eight minute. Then the whistle blows, it’s half time.
The teachers are on top now going into the second half. They take the tip off and play the ball around nicely but the students are having none of it and start putting in the hard tackles to win it back. Abbey, Saoirse and Carey really growing into the game at this stage. Rían got on the ball next passed it to Dara, who crossed it into the box. Noah Curley gets on the end of it but its saved by Mr. C Henry who deflected it back out. Second chance for Noah but this time there was no mistake and he scored making it 1-1. After the kick-off the teachers broke through but Rían slide tackled Mr. Ryan putting out for a throw in. Mr. O‘Neill broke through again and scored his and the teachers second, he was a real threat to the defenders at this point, however he wouldn’t get another kick of the ball as he was closely marked by Hayley after this goal. Its 2-1. The game was nearing its end now. The students played the ball around nicely looking for an equaliser and they finally find a gap in the teacher put through to Noah. Noah tried to take a shot but Mr. Ryan took the ball of him and tried to play and awful pass back to Mr. Henry but it slid past him and went in. It was now 2-2 with the pupils looking strong and now favourites to win. Mr. D. Henry blows the whistle saving the teachers bacon (whistle blown early?). The game ended as a draw.
Students Team:
Mr. O’Neill’s Class: Rían Carroll, Alex Murphy, Dara Abernethy, Abbey Kenny & Hayley O’Donovan
Ms. Connolly’s Class: Ethan, Noah Curley, Harvey Doyle & Ella Rose-Long
Mr. O’Grady’s Class: Noah Cooper, Kyle Shevlin, Saoirse Lee, Ava Lee & Carey Barry
