House of cards

An odd weekend, all teams with cup fixtures on a Sunday did cause the great leader some headaches in the lead-up trying to get a team together.
He invoked the ghost protocol - as he thought it was a mission impossible, but he did manage to find 11 players strong and true to travel to Kilkenny on a Sunday afternoon. He was not one of them, but was there is spirit - in fact he got carded in absentia (as one card was for the captain which I took on his behalf). The average age on the day was less than 20... and 'you know who' brought average age up by about 3 years,
With only 10 players at pitchside with a few minutes to go, there was a slight sense that we might have to play with 10, but Ed showed up and we had a full compliment....but as we had 6 forwards and one defender we did have to shake things up a little, but Orin slotted seemlessly in to left back and Dylan showed great maturity in central defense (Moose's words on Thursday had got through).
With the team arranged the game of cards started ... and it was a little surreal (8 cards and yet not one bad tackle or retaliation).
The 'Travelling Da's' were bemused on the sideline and were wandering what was going on with the umpires (much like Statler and Waldorf at the Muppet show) and even offered to umpire the game ... and I think they were only half joking. But there was a certain fear that when we had only 10 that one may have to join in..it wasn't so funny then.
I took the first card (it was literally a yellow for the team that the captain had to take).. weirdly it was for Jack asking why a penalty corner that the defender admitted to giving away was not awarded.. so it was a double penalty. But we played on to half time for 1-0, and a sense that we were not out of the game became more noticeable. Even though the goal scored was from a questionable short corner, that led to an unquestioned penalty stroke.
Several more cards followed - amazingly it was the restraint the players showed not to get a red was most commendable. We all turned the other cheek. Conor particularly had more than a raised eyebrow once or twice that coincided challenging odd decisions. Jake also did what I considered a ventriloquists trick by throwing his voice for one card. We were down to nine at more than one stage.
But as it was a cup match and we pushed on, and with midfield gaining control in the 2nd half (Jack leading by example). Simon and Conor worked a cross in from the right which was crashed in to the circle. Ben led the defenders out of the way and Jacob smashed the equalizer home. 1-1 and game was on. There was hardly a moment we had 11 on the pitch as the cards kept coming (apparently we talk too much!).
There were chances on both sides but the game ended (with 9 on the pitch) and it was onto a shootout.
And there was still time for confusion as KK put an outfield player in goal (when we queried this, they said the original keeper was injured).
But it made no difference.... Jake, Simon and Conor scoring - on his reverse..even to his surprise (after Jack had shown what the keeper would do, if we got too close)...then it was up to the 'Quiet Man', young Ciaran - who rarely says a word -- spoke louder than words by saving 3 one-on-ones and we are through to the semi-final.

And the team remain unbeaten since November ... that actually is a run. But the discipline..... a work in progress - but the effort and resolve are without question.