It took Aidan Hyland just 24 minutes on his return to action after a serious injury to get on the scoresheet for VEC, with a delightful diving header against Aston Village in Terenure on Saturday. Click on image.

With the lock-down also delaying his return, it was great to see him back in VEC for his first game since May 2019. Also good to see Neal Breslin and Tom Wrynne return to the fold as VEC ran out 5-3 winners in this UCFL Pre-Season Tournament. The other scorers were Jack Nolan (again), Tom Wrynne, Ray Jaudzems and Seamus Staunton.

With just one previous goal for VEC back in January 2019, Jack Nolan scored two spectacular goals in the 18th and 78th minutes, helping us on our way to a comprehensive 6-0 win away to Atletico Malahide. Oisin Kinsella had opened the scoring in the 12th minute, with captain Seamus Staunton netting a penalty in the 22nd minute, followed one minute later by a Ryan Brady strike on his debut! Then Jeff de Castro in the 83rd minute, with his first for VEC, curled a beautiful effort into the top right corner to make it 6. Click on pic. to enlarge

While it wasn’t the result we would have liked, it was great to be back playing football again last Saturday, after a gap of 10 months.

Even though we conceded an opportunist goal to Shelbourne AFC 10 minutes into the 2nd half, it seemed only to be a matter of time before we would score, based on our possession, but alas that goal never came despite some good chances. The visitors then scored their second in the dying minutes to take all three points in this UCFL Pre-Season Tournament. We move on!