Football 7-A-Side

Football Update

In the 7-a-side football Ireland faced their old rivals, the Netherlands, in the 5th/6th place play off. With the match promising to be a competitive, free flowing affair, play opened with some nervous exchanges between the two teams. On five minutes the Netherlands opened their account. The Irish team maintained composure and drew level two minutes later with a fine shot from Cork man Finbar O'Riordan.

Paul Cassin's men continued their attacking play and were rewarded with a fine goal on 11 minutes by Gary Messett to go into a 2-1 lead. Play continued with some good passing through midfield by both sides, when, on 24 minutes, the Netherlands pulled level (2-2). On the stroke of half time the Dutch went in to the lead 3-2 unfortunately due in part to some soft Irish defending (2-3).

The Dutch side was brightest in the opening period of the second half making in 4-2 after eight minutes. The Dutch continued to gain the upper hand but not without some good attacking play from the Irish team. Alan O'Hara was viciously taken down just outside the area but the resulting free kick went agonizingly wide. Team captain Aidan Brennan was substituted for Paul Dollard on 48mins and with the play pretty open, the Dutch team continued to make in roads on the Irish goal. Substitute Irish keeper, Brian McGillivary made several stunning saves to keep the Irish team within shouting distance.

With more good link play between Luke Evans in midfield and O'Riordan up front, the Irish continued to press on but could not close the gap. The encounter finished 4-2 to the Dutch, leaving Ireland in sixth place overall at these Games; an improvement of two places on their eighth finish in Athens, which was their stated target coming to Beijing.

Afterwards Irish captain Aidan Brennan said: "We went out there with great team spirit again; gave it a real go. The 4-2 result is a bit flattering to the Dutch I think; two late goals in the first half kind of upset us but in the second half we went out again and gave it everything; we just came up short on the day".

He continued: "I suppose we are pleased with our Games; it's been a rollercoaster in Beijing; great fans, great participation. The Chinese people just drove us that bit extra; full crowds every day, it was brilliant. We gave it our all. The character of the team really has shone through here. We came out here with a game plan and that was upset by events off the pitch; we had to change our strategy mid competition and in fairness every one of the squad; every man bought into that. We got sixth place using our new strategy with minimal time to work on it , so we'll look back and think what could have been but we drove on regardless and we kept going, and sixth place we'll have to take."