The Diggers’ Dispatch #43
The Diggers’ Dispatch
Right folks… the bags are half-packed, the BBQs are being optimistically cleaned, and someone, somewhere, has already said “this is the year we get the weather for the long weekend.”
Ah now… we’ve all seen the forecast. Typical Ireland — wall-to-wall sunshine all week, and just as the long weekend rolls in… clouds, wind, and the odd sideways shower for good measure. You’d nearly admire the consistency of it.
But sure listen — if there’s one thing we know about Glasnevin FC, it’s this: rain, hail or blazing sun, the Diggers show up. And while the rest of the country debates whether to risk the BBQ, our teams will be out there lining pitches, pulling on boots, and getting stuck in. That’s proper Digger commitment right there.
Inside this week’s Dispatch, we’ve got the usual whopper of a match round-up — goals, graft, and a few moments that’ll have you scratching your head and smiling in equal measure.
And of course… the lotto.
(You know the drill… 👀)
Enter lotto here - 3 lines for a fiver
As for this week’s Tale from the Sideline — well, it involves Drogheda, Shelbourne, a few complimentary tickets, and the small matter of Diggers somehow ending up in the middle of it all. Let’s just say… when Drogs fans couldn’t go, the call went out to the next best thing: us. Because, in fairness… we’re a sound bunch.
So grab a cuppa (or something stronger if the forecast has you rattled), settle in, and enjoy this week’s Dispatch.
Yours in football,
Digger
Editor-in-Chief
The Digger’s Dispatch – Weekly Round-Up
Right Diggers… the sun has finally decided to clock in for duty and didn’t the club respond in style. From Thursday night battles to midweek madness, this was one of those weeks where boots were melting, water bottles were emptying, and football was flowing.
We’ll take it… and we’ll absolutely not question it. Long may it last!
Let’s get into it — day by day, youngest to oldest, the only way Digger knows how…
Thursday
U14 Girls
A tough evening in Albert as the girls went down 2-1 to Raheny.
After a strong run, this one looked like the legs just said “not today.” Effort was there, fight was there — just one of those nights where the tank was running on fumes. Heads up, plenty more to come from this group 💪🏻
Friday
Over 35s Men
A proper cup battle under the lights — 3-3 after normal time against Kingswood.
The lads gave everything, but it wasn’t to be, losing out on penalties. One of those cruel finishes — but a cracking performance all the same.
Saturday
U6 Academy
The weekend kicked off with absolute scenes in the U6s.
A 4-3 match to finish the session — goals, drama, and what’s being described as one of the greatest team goals ever witnessed in ACP. Move over Barcelona.
U7 Boys
Derby Day
A trip to Drumcondra for a proper local showdown — tackles flying (nicely), goals going in, and smiles all round.
Football exactly as it should be. Special mention to the parents… a few eyeing up the famous green quarter-zips 👀
U15 Boys
U15.5 Boys
Walkover win vs Iveagh Transport — we’ll take those and move on!
U15.1/15.2 Boys
Cup run ends with a 4-0 loss to Peamount.
Up against top-quality opposition — no shame at all. Sometimes you meet a team flying… and you tip the cap.
Senior Men
2-3 loss away to Blackrock.
As was wisely said… “nothing.”
We move.
Sunday
U8 Boys
U8.3 Boys
DLLW vs Swords Manor.
Physical game away from home, but the lads grew into it nicely. Lovely morning for it.
U9 Boys
U9.4 Boys
WWWW vs Verona.
Top class performance in the heat — even the opposition coaches were handing out compliments. You love to see it.
U9.12 Boys
WWWW vs St Ita’s.
This group is absolutely flying. Passing, teamwork, effort — all top drawer.
No individual shoutouts… because every single lad earned it. That tells you everything.
U10 Boys
U10.2 Boys
3-2 loss to Malahide.
Played the better football, just didn’t take the chances. Their keeper had a day for the ages.
U10.6 Boys
1-0 win vs Home Farm.
Late winner, limbs, chaos — beautiful stuff. Hard work and commitment all over the pitch.
U10.15 Boys
9-3 loss to Kinsealy.
Tough one. Not at the races early on — but this group will bounce back.
Also great to see a friendly vs Stamullen getting more lads game time — that’s what it’s all about.
U11 Boys
U11.4 Boys
5-3 loss to Knocklyon.
Tight game, fine margins, and maybe a few… enthusiastic sideline calls. Lads stuck to their football — and that matters.
U11.7 Boys
3-2 win vs Ardmore.
Brilliant performance — grit, fight, and a well-earned result.
U11.13 Boys
6-1 loss to Marino.
Bad day at the office — happens to everyone. We go again.
U12 Boys
- U12.5 Boys: 2-5 win vs Dunboyne — Cillian - hat-trick hero ⭐
- U12.10 Boys: 1-0 win vs Esker — best performance of the season
- U12.14 Boys: 8-5 thriller — ended up on the wrong side of a goal fest
Plenty of positives — and plenty of goals!
U12.3 Girls
2-2 draw vs Bohemians (friendly).
Great outing — competitive and full of good football.
U13 Boys
U13.2 Boys
0-5 loss to Finglas.
Off day — plain and simple. Tuesday couldn’t come quick enough.
U13.8 Boys
5-0 win vs Blessington — into the Cup Final!
Huge performance in tough heat, full squad contributing. Big days ahead.
U12 Boys
A full programme from Damien Phelan:
- U12.5 Boys: 6-0 win vs Rivervalley — dominant
- U12.10 Boys: 2-1 loss to Esker — late sucker punch again
- U12.11 Boys: 3-1 loss to Peamount — competitive as ever
- U12.14 Boys: 4-1 loss to Knocklyon — scoreline doesn’t tell the story
Across the board — performances strong, results a bit cruel. It’ll turn.
U13.9 Boys
1-1 away to Terenure.
Disappointed not to win — which tells you how far they’ve come. Strong performance.
U14 Boys
U14.8 Boys
7-0 loss to Ballyoulster.
No sugar-coating it — one of those days. Park it and move on.
U16 Boys
U16.4 Boys
5-2 win vs Ardmore Rovers.
Strong response and a great result on the road.
U16 Major 1 Boys
5-3 loss to Wayside.
Goals galore — just came out the wrong side.
Monday
Senior Men
2-2 vs Castleknock.
2 down… and battled back. Could’ve nicked all three.
Sitting 3rd with 3 to go — it’s getting interesting…
Tuesday
U12.3 Girls
4-0 loss to Drumcondra.
Tough outing — but plenty to build on.
U13.2 Boys
5-2 loss to St Mochtas.
Effort there, confidence low — but no time to dwell.
U13.9 Boys
3-1 loss to Clontarf.
Better than the scoreline suggests — even the ref said it! Fine margins again.
Wednesday
U12.5 Boys
3-3 draw away to Howth.
Cracking game — end-to-end stuff. Proper football.
U15.2 Boys
3-1 win vs Corduff.
That’s more like it. Strong performance and a deserved result.
Thursday
U16. Major 1 Boys
U16 Major 1 GFC 3 - 3 Kilester Donnycarney. Another frustrating night, 2 nil up and let them back into it. Then took the lead with 5 to go and then…
Final Whistle
From academy magic to cup finals, from blazing sunshine to midweek battles — this was a proper Diggers week.
Some highs, some lows, a few “how did that happen?” moments… but through it all — effort, spirit, and a club moving in the right direction.
And if the weather keeps behaving…
We might just be getting warmed up.
The Day the Diggers Took Tolka… (and Nearly Needed Therapy After It)
Some say it happened, some say it didn’t... but Digger swears it’s true!
Now folks… every so often, a match comes along that has everything — drama, goals, heartbreak, joy, confusion, and at least one child questioning their entire footballing allegiance on the way home.
This was one of those days.
A fine band of Diggers — Tadhg, Reuben, Telmo and Arlo — along with their long-suffering (but well-fed) parents, made the trip to Tolka Park for a proper League of Ireland classic between Drogheda United and Shelbourne FC.
Now, let it be known — this was very much a Shelbourne-supporting mission…
Led, of course, by the ever-respectable sideline generals Daragh and Ross, who had the group well drilled in chants, encouragement, and when to dramatically shake the head at refereeing decisions.
Although… there were whispers about Arlo.
Rumours. Murmurs. Quiet suggestions that he might… might… have a soft spot for Bohemian FC.
We won’t confirm it.
But we also won’t deny it.
Act 1: “This Is Going Lovely”
The first half?
Dreamland.
Shelbourne 2-0 up.
The lads were flying.
Tadhg was analysing passing angles like a young Pep Guardiola.
Reuben was already planning his future debut.
Telmo was taking it all in like a seasoned pro.
And Arlo… well… Arlo was enjoying himself in a very neutral way.
There was confidence.
There was swagger.
There may even have been early talk of “this is handy enough.”
Ah lads… dangerous territory altogether.
Act 2: “Wait… What’s Happening Here?”
Second half kicks off.
Next thing you know — bang.
2-1.
Then… bang again.
2-2.
At this point, parents are shifting in their seats.
Daragh’s tactical eyebrow is raised.
Ross has gone full hands-in-pockets mode.
Then Drogheda go 3-2 up.
Now we’re into proper chaos territory.
You could feel it — that strange mix of disbelief and “this can’t actually be happening.”
Act 3: Absolute Bedlam
Shelbourne get a penalty.
3-3.
Scenes. Limbs. Hope restored.
The lads are roaring again. Order has been restored to the universe.
And just when everyone’s settling in for a dramatic finish…
Drogheda pop up with a winner late on.
4-3.
Game over.
Silence.
The kind of silence where you can hear a packet of Tayto being opened three rows back.
Post-Match Analysis (Diggers Style)
On the walk out:
- Tadhg was already breaking down what went wrong tactically
- Reuben insisted “that would never happen to us” (we’ll revisit that in about three years)
- Telmo took it like a pro — head up, lessons learned
- Arlo… suspiciously composed. Almost too composed. We’ll be monitoring that situation closely
Daragh and Ross?
Proud as punch of the lads — and quietly relieved they weren’t the ones trying to explain that second half.
Final Thought
A 4-3, seven-goal thriller, last-minute winner…
Heartbreak? Yes.
Brilliant day out? Also yes.
Because that’s football.
One minute you’re cruising… the next you’re wondering how it all slipped away… and five minutes later you’re already planning the next match.
And the best part?
The Diggers were right in the middle of it.
Yours in football,
Digger