In an extraordinary Cup match, VEC 2nds from Division 2 advanced to the next round of the Challenge Cup by defeating Premier Division newcomers Portmarnock AFC in a penalty shoot-out.

With scores level (3-3) after 90 mins. and (4-4) after extra time, VEC won by 5 goals to 4 in the shoot-out with Simon Roche, Richie Burke, Mattie Wallace, Brian O’Keeffe and Jack McKnight all succeeding from the spot.

Ray Jaudzems rocket in the 62nd minute gave VEC the lead in the 2nd round FAI Junior Cup match against Booth Road Celtic. The home team equalized 5 minutes later from a ‘dubious’ penalty award, but VEC battled away and scored a deserved winner in the 90+3rd minute through a Seamus Staunton penalty to advance to the next round.

Mattie Wallace’s attempt (left) was parried by the Harding goalkeeper Timo Meyer in the 57th minute, only for Conall O’Shaughnessy to bury the rebound for the only goal of the game – giving VEC all three Premier Division points against Harding IF in Benildus College. Trojan work was put in by all including Joey Byrne (right) late in the game, ensuring that the home team didn’t get back into it.

In the Premier Division, a depleted VEC FC lost 3-1 to a very energetic AGP team in Lucan. The home team led 2-0 at half time after two breakaway goals on 12 and 34 minutes, but VEC pulled one back in the 67th minute through Juan Vassallo. A mix up in the VEC defense in the 86th minute led to an own goal which scuppered any chance of a possible draw.

In Division 2, an event-filled game saw VEC’s Gary Curran score his 2nd goal in 2 games to open the scoring and put VEC on the front foot with a poachers effort. Then the home side rallied and nabbed a back post equalizer with just 12 mins left. However, Conor O’Neill was introduced for VEC and managed to repeat his late heroics from last weekend by bagging an 87th minute winner for Sean OShea’s men!

A well-worked goal in the 45+2nd minute, finished by Karl Reck brought VEC back into the Division 2 match against Frankfort FC in Terenure, after the visitors had opened the scoring in the 34th minute.
A defensive mix-up in the 70th minute gifted a 2nd goal to the visitors against the run of play. However, VEC battled on to the very end and were rewarded with an equalizer deep into stoppage time, as Russell White smashed the ball home to claim a well deserved point for the home side.
[This was Russell’s second goal for VEC, having scored his first virtually 2 years ago to the day]

A smash & grab by Sandford St. Mary’s gave them all 3 points in VEC 2nds first league game of the season in Tymon Park.

Garry Curran had given VEC the lead in the 32nd minute, a lead we held on to until 20 minutes from the end, when the home team scored the equalizer and then the winner in the 85th minute. But by this stage, VEC should have been out of sight only to miss three great opportunities to extend our lead and then to be denied on two occasions by inaccurate offside calls by the referee.