Robinstown once more take the rocky road to remarkable victory
Goals from Rogers and O'Neill complete unforgettable journey
There's a lot of qualities that go into a a successful team. Hard graft, skill, grit, self belief, confidence, guts, composure.
Robinstown displayed all those and much more besides as the completed a remarkable journey to claim the Leinster Junior Shield at the MDL today. They took possession of the coveted trophy when they defeated NEFL rivals Sporting BJD with Cody Rogers and Mark O'Neill conjuring up the goals that tipped the balance in their side's favour.
As they have done time and again in this competition Robinstown defied the odds in today's game to climb the mountain and reach the summit. The glorious summit.
Behind 0-1 at the interval Damien Sheridan's side showed the kind of indomitable spirit that is a central core of the team to eventually overcome a skilful BJD outfit that included a plethora of talented, pacy Brazilians.
The victory was the culmination of a topsy-turvy campaign when Robinstown looked like they were about to be counted out several times. Time and again they found an answer. Time and again they did what they had to do to sustain their ambitions in the competition.
Several times in their campaign they went to extra-time. Several times they took the long way around and went to penalties. Each time they prevailed. No matter what route they took, in the end they made it through.
Their big support that urged them on at the MDL today had reason to be joyful at the end because this was truly a special day for the club. A red-letter day for the Robins.
If a Maritan landed down at the MDL at about 3.15 on Saturday afternoon and watched how the game was unfolding he, she, it, would have surely come to the conclusion that the team in the dark jerseys, with BJD on the crest would win the game by a proverbial landslide.
The force was with them as the moved the ball around with all the crispness, elan and class of what you might expect from a bunch of Brazilian footballers. Only Robinstown's unstinting willingness to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in prevented them from folding altogether on a warm afternoon when summer finally arrived.
Only some last-ditch tackles combined with wayward shooting prevented BJD from taking control. On 14 minutes Reginald Santos took a pop from about 35 metres out. Robinstown 'keeper Tommy Carroll appeared to get the faintest of touches. It was enough to ensure the ball hit the bar.
Inevitably, however, the opening goal of the game arrived. With 19 minutes on the clock the ball was swept into the Robinstown box, it broke to Gaspar Neto. He is well named because he was able to arrow the ball through a forest of legs to the net. 1-0. Surely, you felt, Robinstown would concede more. Surely.
Carroll also had to make a fine save again from another Gaspar Neto effort. Only Robinstown's heroic defending prevented them from conceding another.
The Meath side did have their chances or rather a chance. Rogers gave a hint of what was to come when he swept the ball to the net from out on the right in that opening half but the goal was disallowed for offside. It was one of the few occasions the Reds could muster a concerted attack.
Somehow they made it to the interval without conceding second and early in the second -half we saw an example of the kind of grit that has characterised their remarkable run, when they equalised.
There didn't seem to be any real threat to the BJD lead but in an instant everything changed. With 53 minutes played a BJD defender sought to play the ball out from the back. Like a flash his pass was intercepted by Rogers. He saw his chance and from distance he cleverly lofted the ball over the head of the stranded Sporting 'keeper.
The roar from the crowd could be heard back in places like Shambo and Robinstown itself. Emboldened by the equaliser Robinstown played with a little more panache and adventure - and they were rewarded. On 73 minutes the Reds moved the ball up the right. Brian Fay crossed into the BJD goalmouth. The ball broke to Rogers inside the box. He was fouled. Penalty indicated referee Declan Troy and he was right. Upstepped Mark O'Neill. He slotted the ball into the net, sending the 'keeper the wrong way.
Incredibly, remarkably, incredibly Robinstown were in front. They stayed there too closing down everything, not giving BJD an inch of space. Carroll had to make a few smart stops but no spectacular saves were required. The Reds' defensive battlements held firm.
Adam Hilliard with justification won the 'Man of the match' award but this was one of those games when every player in Red was a hero.
One of those occasions when team spirit, grit, resilience, graft won out. They are the kind of qualities Robinstown have been showing throughout the Leinster Shield campaign. The qualities that ultimately carried them to a sweet, unforgettable victory.
Robinstown - Tommy Carroll; Jack Brady; Mark O'Neill, Eoghan O'Neill, Paul Garry, Dylan Kavanagh, Alan Watters, Ciaran Roche, Brian Fay, Cody Rogers, Conor Farrell. Subs - Aidan Hilliard for Watters 24 mins, Cian O'Neill for Roche 57 mins, Paul Curtin for Brady 64m, Ionut Todea for Rogers.
Sporting BJD - Cleber De Jesus Correia; Joao Paulo Batista Dos Santos, Santos Aguiar Uiris, Millon Gabriel, Helio Antonio Sunica, Roberto Carlos, Gaspar Neto, Alessandro Araujo, Jorge Wanderson Lima Pereira, Reginald Santos, Victor Hugo.Subs - Guillheirme Cezar Da Silva Chegas for Lima Pereira, Jefferson Silva for Neto both 57 mins, Clayton Meneces Luiz for Uiris 65m, William Libeiro for Carlos.
Referee - Declan Troy; assistants - Robert Redmond, Paddy McNeill; fourth official - Paddy Fitzsimons.