February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
On a glorious Sunday morning in Randalls Island, Astoria Gaels fall, 3-1, to Div. II leaders F.C. Iberia in the second round of the Association Cup.
With a shuffled back four, the Gaels came out of the traps very slowly, while the opposition was showing some very good one-twos, opening the Gaels defense.
After 15 minutes, a defensive error produced a 6-yard gap in for F.C. Iberia. Ten minutes later, Iberia pushed forward for a 15-yard drive for their second.
Astoria found their game after that and showed some equally good touches with Kevin Nagle at midfield covering a lot of ground. After winning two corners, Martin O’Reilly had a shot wide, and Derek McKenna shot over the top.
On the 45-minute mark, Iberia made a now rare run upfield and got their third.
Astoria were a different team in the second half and had 75 percent of the play. They were unlucky not to score with good chances from Nestor Allen and Brendan Donaghue. Allen was upended in the box but the referee did not call what was a legitimate penalty claim.
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Best for the Gaels were Joe Harris, Allen, Donaghue, sub, Eddie O’Reilly and man of the match Mark Kelly at center-half.
Astoria: Kyne, Carty, Burke, Kelly, Harris, Donaghue, Nagle, O’Reilly, Allen, McKenna, Rabbit. Subs, E. O’Reilly, J. O’Reilly, Moore, Beirne.