It was back to league action in Lucan on Wednesday for VEC after exiting both UCFL cups on penalties in the previous week.

Just 15 minutes into the game, Oisin Kinsella’s excellent cross flew into the net off a defender to set VEC on the way to a 2-1 league win over Beech Park FC. Pat Meghen added a second 5 minutes later but then in the 55th minute, the home team pulled one back after VEC failed to clear their lines, but VEC held out for the 3 points to keep the pressure up on Premier Division leaders South William Street Celtic.

Joey Byrne stole in at the far post in the 48th minute to score the opening goal for VEC against Dunshaughlin in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup on Saturday.

Unfortunately the lead didn’t last long as the home team equalised with a breakaway goal just 5 minutes later! Finishing at 1-1, the game went to extra time, but without any further goals. In the resulting penalty shoot-out, Dunshaughlin advanced to the semi-final on a 4-3 score.

VEC bowed out of the Richard Knight Cup disappointingly at the Last-16 stage in Terenure on Wednesday, after failing to take numerous chances to score, including a penalty miss in the 35th minute after Conall O’Shaughnessy had been bundled over in the box. So, with no goals after 90 minutes, extra-time was needed!

Close efforts can be seen from Joey Byrne and James McGauran in the first half, followed by unsuccessful efforts from Seamus Staunton & Jack Nolan in the second half.

Extra time also failed to produce any goals, so the dreaded penalty shoot-out decided the outcome with Beech Park FC advancing to the quarter-final on a 4-2 score.

Jordan Howard may have ‘put the icing on the cake’ with this goal on the 90th minute, but it was Oisin Kinsella with two lovely goals in the 30th and 58th minutes who set VEC on their way to a well-deserved 3-0 win over Coolock Village in our first Premier Division match in over four months in Terenure … thus keeping the pressure on South William Street Celtic at the top of the table.

After being two goals behind after 40 minutes, two goals a-piece from Seamus Staunton and James McGauran secured an eventual 4-4 draw for VEC in the friendly against LSL side CYM Beechwood on Tuesday.

Another good workout in preparation for the return to league action at the weekend!

Oisin Kinsella (not in picture) scores VEC’s first goal direct from a corner kick, as VEC went on to beat St. James Gate in a friendly – and the first match back after 4 months – as part of our preparation for the return to league action next Saturday.

What a way to score your first goal for VEC FC!

Calum Gallagher put this cup match to bed when he scored VEC’s 3rd goal in the 106th minute as VEC FC progressed to the quarter-finals of the O’Neills.com Challenge Cup at the expense of Oldbury FC on a very chilly Friday night in Killinarden.

It wasn’t until the 75th minute that the home team took the lead from a very dubious penalty award. Immediately VEC re-jigged the team and put immense pressure on the Oldbury goal – and got their reward by scoring a dramatic equaliser through Rob Newe in the 93rd minute, thus bringing the game into extra time.

Then a first goal of the season from defender Neal Breslin gave VEC the lead in the 12th minute of extra time … before Calum’s strike to give VEC a deserved 3-1 win.

Pic. Bres runs to his best friend Petesy for a hug!

After a number of early chances, a 12th minute goal from Conall O’Shaughnessy gave VEC a deserved lead in the Richard Knight Cup match against Castle Celtic on Bluebell’s Astro. But it was not until the 67th minute when Oisin Kinsella scored the second that the pressure was off VEC, who scored two further goals through Tom Wrynne in the final 10 minutes.

Pic. 1: Gav Murphy. Pic. 2: Oisín Kinsella in tussle for the ball with Jordan Howard in attendance and observed closely by Referee Tom Shannon. and Pic. 3: VEC Captain Séamus Staunton.

VEC FC now advance to the next round with a home game against Beech Park FC.

Goals from Tom Wrynne, Rob Newe, Joey Byrne and a breathtaking 30yd. strike by Jordan Howard ensured that VEC secured the 3 points that were required to put pressure on Premier Division leaders Sth. William St. Celtic against Coolock Village FC at the Oscar Traynor Centre. Final result: 4-1 to VEC.

Pic. shows VEC’s first goal by Tom Wrynne on the 30th minute mark.

Meanwhile in Division 2, a draw was no good for either Castle Celtic 2nds or VEC FC 2nds when the two met on a windswept Stannaway park as we failed to score in our third consecutive game. It ended 0-0 and leaves VEC second in the table trailing Sandford/St Marys by seven points, while Castle will have to be content with their mid-table position. VEC Squad

In a typical cup tie, VEC FC overcame Harding IF FC 2nds in a penalty shoot-out (4-3) to advance to the last 16 of the O’Neills.com Challenge Cup where we will meet Oldbury FC.

VEC’s saviour on the day was Jordan Howard who scored direct from a corner in the 14th minute and then from a free kick in the 32nd minute. In between, Harding scored in the 18th minute and then dramatically equalized with virtually the last kick of the game (95th minute) to bring the game into extra time.

With no further goals, the penalty shoot-out decided the outcome on a 4-3 score! [1 of Richie Hannify’s 2 penalty saves below]