The 3 H’s Hit Home!

Not Head, Heart & Hands! More like the definition of working hard and getting it done, which is – “Be Humble; Stay Hungry; Always Hustle” – or was it just VEC’s 3 H’s: Houlihan, Hester & Howard who scored our 3 goals against Coolock Village today to move us to mid-table in the Premier Division. Well done Alonso, Jay & Jordan!

VEC Advance in Thriller!

Man-of-the-match Neill Love is congratulated after slotting in the winning penalty for VEC against Boghall Rovers, after this Richard Knight Cup match finished 4-4 after extra-time. 4-1 down after 60 minutes (Rob Newe scored our goal) meant we had it all to do to stay in the Cup. Player/manager Carl O’Gorman’s first goal for the Club soon after gave us hope and then that man Love rose high to score from a corner, before an exquisite strike from Shane O’Connor with just 8 minutes remaining brought the match to extra-time. In the shoot-out, Oisin Kinsella, Conor Lewis, Joey Byrne and Neill Love all converted for VEC, while the home team had two of their penalties saved by Richie Hannify.

Stalemate Saturday!

Two 0-0 results on the same day was quite unique! Not the results we wanted in both games, but that was not for the want of effort! However, a point was enough to keep VEC 2nds at the top of Division 2 after a strong performance against a well-organised Drumcondra side, whilst VEC 1sts just missed that last bit in front of goal, despite a convincing first half performance and a powerful finish against Atletico Malahide in the Premier Division.

Paddy’s Playground!

Paddy Cook turned this game into his personal playground, netting 4 goals for VEC with the finesse of a seasoned pro, leaving his manager and spectators in awe and our opponents Brookview Utd. scratching their heads in disbelief. His performance was a masterpiece that will be talked about for a few years hours. (btw 1 of those 4 goals was an o.g. which he claimed). Jerry Clancy, Frankie Nolan, Mano Mansuk & Andy Howell were the other scorers in this 8-0 league win!

VEC Top the Division!

VEC 2nds recorded their 6th win on the trot against Rathmines Roosters in Terenure to stay top of Division 2. Although we had the opposition under pressure for most of the game, it took us 65 minutes to take the lead, when Richie Rye was in the right place to poke the ball into the net following a Conor Callaghan corner kick. Frankie Nolan made the result safe when he beat the offside to score our second in the 90th minute, and ensure the 3 points. It finished 2-0. More pics. here

Another ‘Pat’-Trick!

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.

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!

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!