Galaxy team star against giants of Dublin football

a competition that featured 16 teams. Among the contenders were the very best in the country, including the likes of St Kevin’s, Belvedere, Shamrock Rovers and Cherry Orchard.

The boys from East Meath were certainly not intimidated by any of these clubs and they surprised many by qualifying for the quarter-finals courtesy of three narrow victories and three clean sheets in the group stages.

Their prize for finishing top of their group was an extremely tough assignment against Cherry Orchard and after going in 1-0 down at the half-way point, having been largely out-played, EMU were seriously struggling and on the verge of bowing out of the competition.

However, inspirational winger Charlie Bacon grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and scored a sensational equaliser and led his team superbly to fight for a well-deserved draw.

A penalty shootout followed and both sets of players found it difficult to score from the spot. East Meath missed three of their first four kicks, but keeper Oisin Black kept them in it by making four saves. This allowed captain Ryan McBrearty to score the winner in decisive fashion with the final kick to send his team into the semi-finals.

EMU were joined in the semis by St Kevin’s, Belvedere and another Cherry Orchard team, not bad company to be keeping for a rural club from East Meath!

Galaxy were pitted against a side from Cherry Orchard again and again they went 1-0 down, only for Davin O’Connor to level the tie after some wing wizardry from McBrearty.

At the start of the second half it was all to play for, but unfortunately the East Meath lads finally ran out of steam, and despite fighting to the end they conceded two goals from corner kicks and shipped a 3-1 defeat.

Nevertheless, it was a super day for the squad and mentors Damo O’Kelly and Paul Bacon to have their NDSL side competing on a level playing field with the top DDSL sides.