Well done to Kilbarrack Utd. who took full advantage of a poor VEC performance to advance to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup with a 3-2 win.

James McGauran’s 12th minute goal was cancelled out by 2 goals in the next 7 minutes by the home team which they increased to 3 just before half-time after receiving a very soft penalty decision, when most agreed that a free out should have been awardedprior to that.

Oisin Kinsella’s goal from a lovely free kick with 10 minutes left gave VEC some hope but despite serious pressure thereafter, unfortunately the equalizer never materialised.

A somewhat disjointed performance from VEC allowed Dunshaughlin Youths to gain maximum points from this Division 2 clash in Terenure, Their set-pieces were really the difference between the two teams. Their 1st goal was scored on the half hour mark, before VEC equalised 7 minutes after the break through Garry Curran. But goals in the 60th and 65th minute ensured the visitor’s victory long before another 3 goals were scored in time added on to leave the result 2-5 with Conor O’Neill getting VEC’s 2nd goal in the dying moments.

VEC FC Exit LFA Senior Cup

After conceding a goal from a looping header 5 minutes into time added on in the first half, VEC FC returned in the second half to equalize after 11 minutes through Joey Byrne against Clontarf FC in the AUL Complex.

With no further goals, we entered 30 minutes of extra time, yielding no further scores and thus faced a penalty shoot-out – unfortunately losing out by 2 goals to 1.

Joey Byrne’s first goal of the season in the first minute of the second half, ensured that VEC advanced to the next round of the LFA Junior Cup at the expense of Leinster Senior League top outfit Maynooth University Town out in Maynooth. The game finished 0-1.

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]