Competition: Leinster Senior League Sunday Senior Division 1B (Sixth Tier)
Date: 26 March 2023
Result: Rush Athletic 0 – 0 Oliver Bond Celtic
Tickets: free, walk up
Attendance: Roughly 100
Game/ Experience Rating: ☆☆
The Game: Both Rush Athletic and Oliver Bond Celtic had plenty of reason to be up for this one – Rush are sitting in second and still holding outside hopes of winning a title, but also have an eye on those behind them – they must finish at least third to secure guaranteed promotion. Oliver Bond are one of those sides pushing to catch them.
Unfortunately these games can go either way, and this one wasn’t good. A first half filled with offsides, and few decent chances, and a second half only slightly better, though Rush has a couple of threatening headers, and Oliver Bond scuffed a one-on-one with the Rush goalkeeper. Oliver Bond also had a forward sent off late on for kicking out at a defender after the ball was shepharded out. A daft red card if you ever saw one.
The bottom line, though, is this wasn’t overly entertaining, though it probably suits Rush more than Oliver Bond as the current gap stays in place. Three games to go to secure that promotion.
The ground: Rush Athletic is just a pitch with a metal barrier around it, but my word the views are exceptional (see pics). Always a pleasant experience.
Extras: Berry and Bean coffee van. That’s about it.
Assorted asides: I think I’m right in saying if Rush secure promotion to the fifth tier (third tier in Leinster Senior League terms), they’ll be at the highest level they’ve ever been in the Irish system. That means a huge few games over the next month or so.
My totals for the year so far:
Games: 7. Home wins: 4 Draws: 3 Away wins: 0
Goals: 20. Home goals: 13. Away goals: 7. Goals per game: 2.86