Guinness

As usual I was up early this morning. Most weeks I'm coaching the U9s at 9:30am, but today I was with my son's U9s team. They had a crunch game against Oughterard and here is the synopsis I shared with the coaches group earlier.

It was very much a game of two halfs today in Drom for the U12s in the Championship. Salthill Devon dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead with big *** ****** on target for the home side. After peppering the Oughterard goal, Devon fell behind to one of Oughterard's only first half efforts, 1-1 at the break. The Salthill lads gave it everything in the second half, but ultimately fell short with Oughterard As edging it 3-1, finishing stronger and having the better of the chances in the second half. It was very much "play out from the back" vs "long ball" on the day, with the long ball winning today, but Devon will continue to develop and are becoming increasingly proficient playing it out from the back.

A trip to East Galway is next up and a win there will see Salthill reclaim top spot.

Myself and the other coaches and of course the kids were disappointed with the result, but that's sport. You win some, you lose some.

I went for a few pints this evening with some friends.

I watched the Arsenal match first with my son and they were fortunate to come away with the win.

The club brass and Arteta have a lot to answer for after failing to bring in any attackers in the January transfer window which could easily cost us our title shot in the end. With Saka, Martinelli, Jesus all on the sidelines, things have now been compounded further with Havertz now also out for the season.

We were already short without the injuries, but now we are threadbare with only Trossard, Nwanari and Sterling available as forward players.

Sterling is not good enough in my opinion so I was happy to see him hooked and Mikel Merino came on in his place. It was his first time ever playing up front and the 28 year old Spanish player grabbed a late brace to save the Gunners season.

The turning point though came in the 78th minute when Lewis-Skelly cleared a guaranteed goal with a toe tap. Had that gone in Leicester would have gone 1-0 up and it would have been curtains for Arsenal's title push.

Here are a few stills to show ye.

Leicester with 4 v 4 breakaway

A great ball across goal between Raya and the backs.

Only Lewis-Skelly can save the day now...

Raya looks on despairingly

Lewis-Skelly comes into shot...

He stretches out a foot...

He somehow steers it wide, when it would have been really easy to score an own goal.
Maturity. Brilliance. Sensational stuff. This moment won us the match.

A massive result and the gap closes to 4 points. Liverpool play Wolves tomorrow and Aston Villa on Wednesday. If they drop any points in these two games, it will really open up the door to the Gunners. GAME ON.

To Lewis Skelly!!!

Thanks for taking the sour taste away after the U12s lost their game.

Until next time Beer Saturdayorians...

Oh by the way...

How was your Beer Saturday?

Where were you?

What was the drink of choice?

Who was with you?

Are those your feet?

How's your auld one?

Any other craic?

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