Iveagh United 0-3 Crumlin Star

The Star started the new season where they left the last one with another league win and 3 points in the bag. It wasn't a vintage Star performance but it was a good win away from home and that's all that really matters. Star started of the brighter out of the two teams as they stroked the ball about nicely and probed about for openings in the Iveagh defence. Captain Sean Brown opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Braniff broke clear and crossed for him to volley home from 6 yards out leaving the home keeper with no chance. To their credit Iveagh's heads never dropped as they battled for every ball and made a good contest of the game though they never really troubled Thompson in the Star's goal.

H/T 0-1

The second period was more of the same with both sides giving as good as they got but it was always the Star who looked the more clinical in front of goal and with potent strikers as good as Paul Brown and Mark Mooney they'll always score you goals out of nothing. Mark Mooney doubled the Star's lead just after the hour mark after Ciaran Burns picked him out wonderfully with a defence splitting through ball and the little striker made no mistake with the finish lifting the ball over the stranded keepers head. The game was over as a contest one minute later when new signing Dam Whelan squared the ball to last years top scorer Paul Brown who passed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to make it 3-0 to the Ardoyne side. The Star had to see out the final quarter of the game without Anto Braniff who got his marching orders for two nothing tackles which resulted in two yellows but to be honest look a bit harsh. So a good start to the season for the champions as they go in search for back to back league titles.

Team: Thompson, McCoey, Burns, Keenan, McAlea, Reid, Brown, Braniff, O'Reilly, P.Brwon, Mooney
Subs: Hamilton, Whelan, McConnall

Captain Sean Brown opened the scoring on Saturday