Celebration a glimpse into Tigers’ success
FOOTBALL A SENSATIONAL goal from star Edge Hill United forward Josh De Nittis to cap a 4-1 FFA Cup win against Southside Comets would have been memorable enough for the former Cairns FC striker.
The piece of on-field brilliance, an early goal-of-theyear nomination for the glorious curling assist and elite finish, may have been delivered into FNQ Football folklore courtesy of teammate Josh Taylor’s choice of post-goal celebration.
Player-coach Edge Hill United Crios O’Hare couldn’t offer much in the post-game interview.
“I don’t know anything about it and I’m embarrassed about it to be honest,” he said with a smirk. “Josh Taylor, he’s an interesting character … But I’ve got no idea about that.”
The momentum of De Nittis’ meeting the ball in mid-air and blasting it into the back of the net led to the former Brisbane Strikers forward sliding onto the ground on his back.
His arms raised above his head, a euphoric expression on his face after giving his side an unassailable 4-0 lead in the final quarter of the Walker Road Sporting Precinct clash, De Nittis soaked up the moment as his teammates rushed to join him.
Taylor was there first, but rather than slide or lift De Nittis as is usually the outcome, the 2018 NPL Team of the Year forward had other ideas, turning his attacking partner into a makeshift kayak and paddling.
The post-goal celebration of the year contender rubbed salt into Southside’s wounds, but it provided a glimpse behind the team many consider the FNQ Football Premier League champions in waiting.
Powered by a number of exCairns FC and NPL players, Edge Hill United has looked dominant, despite some close scorelines.
The Tigers, who widely expected to be FNQ’s last team standing in the FFA Cup, are not only one of the best teams on the park, but appear to be having the most fun.
You can see it in the way they play.
The Tigers employ an energetic, expansive style of play when they have the ball.
There is plenty of talk and movement off the ball, forcing opposition defenders to be continually thinking of what their opposite man could do while being alert to what’s in front of them.
In defence, the Tigers are a formidable, physical outfit, no doubt emboldened and betterequipped by the men who have played at higher levels.
There are wide-ranging views about just how far the Tigers go in defence, but there’s no questioning its effectiveness and it seems officials are fine with what they say.
That time some players have had in the NPL can put light years between Edge Hill United and their less-experienced opponents, and it’s one the Tigers are exploiting early.
But you can see it off the field.
It is easy to see it when a team is winning, but O’Hare’s post-game address was mixed in with plenty of laughs and banter.
When O’Hare finally finished his post-game interviews and joined his teammates in the sheds for the victory song, you could hear the raucous rendition hundreds of metres away.
Then, when filming their social media special Tiger TV, a regular feature on the club’s Facebook page, you could see just how much fun the boys are having.
Of course, that mood could change should they start to lose, but for now, the Tigers embody the spirit in which local football should be played.
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