7 months after his last hat-trick, Paddy Cook hit the back of the Kiltalown FC net three times in the first 20 minutes of the Division 2 league match in Jobstown to give VEC FC a commanding 3-0 lead by half-time. Two quick goals after the re-start – with the elements now in their favour – put the home team back in the game, but we held out for another 3 points.
Author Archives: dspring
Joey’s Landmark 250th Goal for VEC!
Last Saturday in the ETB (VEC) Sportsgrounds in Terenure against AGP FC in the Premier Division of the UCFL, our own Joey Byrne netted his landmark 250th goal for the Club. What an achievement! What a milestone!
It took the legendry Wayne Rooney 546 games playing for Manchester Utd. to achieve that milestone; whereas Joey has achieved that after playing in just 432 official games for VEC FC, having made his debut on 21st August 2004 against St. Canice’s Utd. in Terenure. Read Joey’s achievements over those 18 seasons here.
VEC Tops in 2 Cracking Games!
VEC players celebrate a stoppage-time goal from Conor Callaghan as VEC 2nds beat top-of-the-table Malahide Utd. 2nds 2-1 in this closely contested Division 2 league game in Terenure.
In the Premier Division game on the adjoining pitch, VEC 1sts dispatched AGP FC on a scoreline of 3-2 when Oisín Kinsella came up with the goods, firstly after only 10 minutes and then on 68 minutes to finally kill off the visitors’ challenge. AGP had equalized twice on 15 minutes and 55 minutes, but in between Joey Byrne was on hand to guide the ball home just 3 minutes into the 2nd half …. and this was Joey’s 250th goal for the Club. A truly remarkable achievement – details of which are captured in a separate post!
Pick-a-Winner 2023 Underway!
VEC’s web-based competition commenced on 4th November 2023. Weekly selections are submitted on-line. 70 have entered so there will be €700 in prize money.
Follow on www.pickawinner.ie
Big Thanks!
Thanks to Ray Brady (pictured with VEC’s Tom Wrynne and Dave Spring) and the team at Bradys Pub Terenure who generously sponsored 2 new sets of jerseys to celebrate VEC’s 50th Anniversary.
It all started in Summer 1974, when an application was made by the newly-formed V.E.C. Football Club to the United Churches Football League of Ireland (UCFL) and V.E.C. FC were immediately accepted into the top division. Then on the 7th September 1974, the club played its first official game: it was a Barton Shield match played in Terenure against St. Maelruan’s from Tallaght. Dave Spring wore the no. 11 shirt in that first game!
VEC Edged out of Cups!
AUL side Galty Celtic edged us out of the FAI Junior Cup in a rip-roaring clash on the Brickfields All-Weather on Saturday.
In a stop-start opening period it was the home side who forged ahead after 25 minutes, after we had – what appeared to be – a perfect goal unnoticed by the referee after just 6 minutes! As STRIKER on line reported, “VEC played some neat football but Galty were really competitive and netted a second in the 67th minute. VEC refused to throw in the towel and Oisín Kinsella threw VEC a lifeline one minute later, taking advantage of a quickly taken free kick to reduce the arrears. Galty then netted a third on 78 minutes with a rampaging run through the VEC rearguard to find the net”. Jeff De Castro then netted our second with a screamer of a shot in added time and we went close to forcing extra time but it was not to be. It finished 3-2. Tap for STRIKER report & more photos
Earlier in the day, VEC 2nds stepped up to the plate when it mattered and put in a super shift, keeping current premier division champions Malahide Utd. on their toes for the whole game. Unfortunately, the home team’s first half goal was the only one of the game and our second string exited the Challenge Cup with heads held high!
Comfortable Win in Cup
Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer might be regarded as the greatest super-sub of all time, but VEC’s Alonso Houlihan proved today that he can also be called a super-sub. Playing his first game for VEC’s first team, he scored the insurance goal in the 80th minute, just 10 minutes after entering the fray, to ensure that VEC advanced to the next round of the Challenge Cup! This was after Joey Byrne had opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Right throughout, our defense was rock solid! It finished 2-0 in Terenure. More pics. here
We Meet Again!
This was one of our 6 goals against Drumcondra AFC in the 2019 Challenge Cup Final.
We have been drawn at home to meet them in the 1st Round of this season’s Challenge Cup. Meanwhile, VEC FC 2nds face a daunting but challenging task as they will travel to meet the Premier Division champions Malahide Utd.
Record Win for VEC 2nds
VEC 2nds scored 10 goals as they demolished a poor Clondalkin Celtic side in their Division 2 match in Terenure. The goals came from Chris O’Riordan & Richie Rye with 2 a-piece, and one each from Paul Langan, Paddy Cook, Colm Callaghan, Antoine Daubigny and Jerry Clancy. The other was an o.g. It finished 10-0: a record for our second string! [Click on image to enlarge].
VEC P-o-t-Y Awards
Congrats to Jefferson and Seán who received their Player-of-the-Year awards for Season 2022-2023 last night.
Jeff appeared in 28 of VEC’s 30 first team games last season, bagging 6 goals from right back in a marauding season of top performances for the club.
In his debut season for the club, Seán immediately became an integral part of the 2nd team’s midfield as they mounted a strong league challenge.