CE Football
Last year Edenderry Athletic Sports began! The official CE football team had varying success on the pitch but none who took part could argue with the success off of it. An instrument of real fellowship a squad of over 20 boys bonded over the weeks, which eventually took us to the shield final and victory after a hard season.
A squad mish-mashed of rugby and hockey players, and a few decent Saturday morning footballers along with people just up for the bant went into the first game with good spirits and were beaten 4-1 in a game that didn’t reflect how close the match was by Richhill who had a former Armagh City keeper and Loughgall striker among their ranks. The next game was an odd affair. CE equalising after the opener with Player of the Year David “Kenkladze” Kennedy scoring directly from a corner kick. His reaction really showing that he didn’t mean it, after stomping angrily on the ground assuming the ball was going straight out, and then looking up and running the length of the pitch in full DK style. After scoring in the last minute after a long ball to DK again, who had layed it off to Maginnis to finish well, another controversial moment surprised us all. Our opponents “Centre Cross” took their kick off from behind their own goal line and scored while we were still celebrating and still in their half and yet the referee allowed it.
This turned out to be a bigger moment than we first thought. It became a talking point between the two teams, and eventually we bonded over it instead of being easily annoyed as would be the norm we laughed about at and joked we would get them back for it. Every other league game until the very last we lost, most quite badly or in bad manner, like losing 5-4 after being 4-2 up. However during this period of losing we began to bond more as a team and began praying at the beginning, middle and end of each game.
The small annoyance that was there evidently became joy and fellowship, just enjoying the company of other Christian lads. We finally won a match in our last league game, in which we brought in help from Christopher Baird in nets and striker George Watson. The game also marked a debut for Ryan Mann who had been struggling with sickness throughout the whole time the league was on, and so Ryan was given the first 5 minutes of the game to try and make an impression but due to his sickness couldn’t viably play too much.
Somehow we ended up 6-3 up and so “Iron” Mann took to the field for the last 5 minutes again and somehow managed to scramble in a goal from Watson’s belter and celebrated in a way that made every single person present laugh, by screaming “YESSSSS” and sprinting around Loughgall. As cheesy as it sounds I truly believe God was rewarding us for our perseverance and fellowship. I truly believe we put God before the football for the latter stages. We eventually won the semi final a whopping 12-1 with every player who started outfield getting a goal, and getting a chance for Seth Mathers to get his first bit of outfield time after spending the season as first choice keeper. We went into the final in great spirits after that game and eventually won on penalties. When DK placed the winner into the top left corner we erupted and a scene of pure joy ensued.
We tried to remain level headed in the team huddle after and remembered what it was all for. Today the CE boys are still good friends and some I think it would be fair to say are best friends. God has worked here, and he will continue to. God is Good.