Here is Jack Nolan scoring the only goal of the game on the hour mark, as VEC made it 6 out of 6 in the Premier Division with a deserved win against Malahide Utd. in Gannon Park.

It wasn’t the best pitch or the best weather conditions (strong winds on the coast), but everyone from VEC dug in with great work-rate, effort and determination and got their just rewards. More pics.

Some might have thought it was a cross from the right, but Jeff De Castro knew exactly what he was doing as he found the net with just five minutes remaining to give VEC FC all three points against St. Mary’s Boys in this Premier Division match which was switched to Marlay Park Astro.

Oisin Kinsella had opened the scoring in the 4th minute for VEC, only for the visitors to equalise eight minutes later and then take the lead 18 minutes into the 2nd half. Two minutes later and Jay Hester scored his first goal for VEC before Jeff’s strike to give VEC five wins out of five in the league. More pics. here.

No. 6 Gildas Oliver receives the congratulations  of his team-mates after equalising for VEC with a brilliant strike in the 75th minute against visitors Clondalkin Celtic, who had opened the scoring in the 28th minute in this Division 2A league match in Terenure.

There were no further goals resulting in the points being shared in what was probably a fair 1-1 draw.  More pics.

Hapless Newlane FC 2nds from Division 3C found VEC’s all-time top goal-scorer Joey Byrne in top form as he scored 5 goals as VEC coasted into the 3rd round of the Challenge Cup in Collinstown Park. The final outcome was 7-0 with Seamus Staunton and James McGauran also getting on the scoresheet.

The first four goals were scored by Joey in a 16-minute spell in the first half.  He could easily have added to his tally of 233 goals for VEC, save for tremendous goalkeeping (excuse the pun) from the home team no. 1 Stephen Barry.

More pics. here.

This goal from Joey Byrne (9) after just 10 minutes set VEC on the way  against Elm Mount FC in Parnells Astro. The home team pulled one back after 27 minutes leaving this 2nd round LFA Junior Cup match all square at half-time. Then with VEC suffering two unfortunate injuries shortly after, Elm Mount scored two quick goals in the 55th and 60th minutes, before Pat Meghen’s excellent penalty three minutes later made it 3-2. Pics here.

Despite constant pressure from there on, VEC failed to find the net, as the opposition closed out the game to advance to the next round.

VEC’s three Conors: Conor O’Neill, Conor Daly and Conor Callaghan each scored as VEC 2nds pulled off a comprehensive 7-2 victory over Dublin Postal FC in Round 1 of UCFL’s Challenge Cup in Terenure on Saturday.

This is not to overlook a wonderful hat-trick from the club’s leading goalscorer Paddy Cook (pic.). VEC’s other goal came from Colm McSharry.

Next is an away trip to either Swords Manor 2nds or Tamh-Leacht FC who have yet to play their round 1 match.

A great left wing cross from Joey Byrne (not in pic.) just eluded Tom Wrynne (10) and the inrushing James McGauran (7) and whizzed past the post after 23 minutes in this match against Harding IF on the Ringsend Astro, before Tom’s pile-driver from 25 yards flew into the top right hand corner of the net to give VEC the lead just 2 minutes before the break.

Chances thereafter by both teams were few and far between with defenses dominating, so this goal decided the outcome giving VEC all three Premier Division points with the 1-0 scoreline. See more pics at Results

It was not a good day for an understrength VEC 2nds, who went down 6-2 to Division 2A top-of-the-table side Oldbury FC in Aylesbury Park.

Paddy Cook scored a goal in each half for VEC but this effort went narrowly wide.

Conall O’Shaughnessy about to head in VEC’s last gasp equalizer at the end of extra time which brought our FAI Junior Cup game against Leinster Senior League outfit Booth Road Celtic to a dreaded penalty shoot-out on the SDFL’s Astro.

VEC had opened the scoring with Neill Love’s first goal for VEC in just the 2nd minute and an exquisite second followed from Jordan Howard in the 27th minute before the home team pulled one back in stoppage time in the first half. They then levelled the game 6 minutes into the second half and it remained 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Extra time followed and Booth Road took a fortuitous lead in the first period when the ball was deflected by a VEC defender into his own goal. But the equalizer brought it to 3-3 and penalties where VEC unfortunately missed two, resulting in the home team advancing on a 4-1 shoot-out score.