Dave Walsh’s Palmerstown Rangers 15’s headed to Stoke on Easter Sunday to partake in the Easter Tournament and hoping to improve on last year’s Plate runner-up spot.

Match 1 
First match saw two heavy weights from the 15’s age group clash

.  Confey were the opposition and playing two leagues above Rangers. It was surely going to be a tough test for the lads. The pitch was in great condition, considering the weather a week earlier in the Potteries.  Both teams played to their strengths and after six minutes Dunne forced an excellent save from the Confey keeper, from a free-kick.  A cagey thirty minutes followed and after settling in and a scoreless first half Palmerstown were the team to move up a notch. 

Weekes, Aspil and Corcorcan all had wonderful chances to put the game to bed, but the shooting boots were missing.  Parmo were forced to make three changes in the final ten minutes through injury and with about three minutes on the clock Confey were to find themselves very lucky to be one up from a goalmouth scramble.  Confey doubled their lead from a superb free kick that left Keegan with no hope. Parmo never gave up and pressed for as much time as possible and were to get one back from the peno spot from Weekes.  Weekes was again unlucky in the dying seconds not to get an equaliser. Parmo very very unlucky to go down 2-1. Good game played by Dunne, Walsh and Corcoran. 

Match 2
Pitted against Drimnagh Celtic the lads were looking to avenge their very unlucky loss the previous day.  Drimnagh lost their opening game 5-0 so both wanted some points.  Parmo showed their intent from the very start and after an abundance of pressure on the Drimnagh goal from the start. Aspil got in at the back post for the opener on 14 mins. 1 up at the half the pressure wasn’t to die down and Rangers soon doubled their lead from a Glennon goal that was placed well to the keeper’s far corner with a low drive.  Drimnagh were to get one back in the dying stages and went with four up front, but Rangers defence did what they’ve being doing all season and soaked it all  up.  2 – 1 Rangers worthy winners.  Good game for mention Aspil and McGrane. 

Match 3
Bethly from England went into this final group game needing just a point and that’s exactly what they played for.  Parmo wanted nothing less than a win to progress to the Cup Final.  A draw or loss and they would battle out in the Plate Final again.  Palmerstown were by far the better team and with Weekes destroying the English team on the left hand, had three wonderful strikes saved by an excellent keeper.  The two Stoke city trainees up from for Bethly were kept at bay so much by Dunne, Walsh and Maguire that they were both subbed.  Palmerstown tried with three up front in search of a winner but with both Rangers frontmen unable to travel the final third was an unlucky area for the lads and so the game ended in stalemate.  Palmerstown 0-0 Bethly.  Good games for Johnston, Weekes and Maguire.

The Plate Final
Palmerstown Rangers 1-1 Drimnagh Celtic (Palmerstown won 7-6 on Penos)
Getting to know each other well by now both teams served up a cracker.  Palmerstown’s panel was now down three players with injuries but they still played to their strengths and were one up when Johnston drilled home the opener.  Chance were limited as the Drimnagh packed their defence but having gone a goal down at half-time they soon went three and four up front and heaped shots as stand in Rangers keeper Nolan.  Nolan was on fire in his new (but not unfamiliar) role and the make-shift Rangers defence which was affected through injury were under severe pressure for the final ten.  Drimnagh got their deserved equaliser and the game went to Penos.

Tired bodies and a large crowd had seen a thriller unfold to sudden death and the dramatic shoot-out served up a treat.

Walsh started proceedings and buried the pen for 1-1.  The second peno was missed by Parmo with Johnston scraping the post.  Drimnagh hit a rocket to the corner but although he was carrying a knock and stepping in for the final few minutes, keeper Keegan (The Tank) flew high in the air to push the shot away.

Weekes Nolan and Dunne all scored as did Drimnagh and we went into sudden death as the nerves frayed and nails got bitten.

The sixth peno up stepped Mal “Buttons” Taylor and as cool as can be hit a Peno that any Pro would be proud of.  Drimnagh scored again but McGrane buried the 7^th Peno.  A shot was placed low to the Parmo keeper’s side and he again dropped to pull off the save and Parmo collected the trophy for the return to Dublin. 

Dave’s Summary

Manager Dave Walsh spoke highly of his team commending them for their all their efforts on and off the field.
An all round excellent show put on by his lads had Dave summed it up when he said “ A very find bunch of players who know their football, but also carry with them all the décor a young footballer should have, namely manners, courtesy and will to win played with a smile on their faces.  They are still going for league and cup double you know … AGAIN!!!!”

Congratulations and all credit to the lads who along with their parents represented the club in an absolutely tremendous manner.