Belvedere beat American side Elizabethtown College 4-0 in the first Noel O’Reilly memorial match at Home Farm FC on Whitehall on Tuesday night.
 
Goals from David Lodola, Shane Keely, Tom O’Halloran and Matt Doherty secured the win for the ‘boys in blue’ but the game was not only about the result.
 
Belvo took the lead in front of a good crowd after twenty minutes. Right-back Shane Keely’s excellent cross from a deep position was brilliantly headed in by David Lodola to make it 1-0.
 
An early evening rain shower made the pitch nice and slick, with Captain Paul Corry, David O’Brien and Jake Carroll getting Belvo forward as much as possible from midfield.
 
Shane Howard felt a slight twinge on his quad after half an hour, he was replaced up front by Stuart Cooling.
 
Belvo made a number of substitutions at half time. Leigh Swords slotted in at right-back, replacing David O’Brien which saw Kealy going into midfield. Matt Doherty came in beside Brendan Turley at centre back, pushing Garvan Broughall into the middle. Jake Carroll went to left back, meaning Tom O’Halloran took the place of David O’Connor.
 
Belvo’s dominance meant Elizabethtown had a limited amount of possession and very few chances to trouble Belvo goalkeeper Craig Sexton.
 
Kealy went from provider to scorer for Belvo’s second. Smashing into the net from just inside the box after good link up play involving Lodola and Cooling.
 
It was 3-0 with twenty minutes left. Tom O’Halloran finishing well with a powerful half-valley which the ‘keeper could only parry into the net.
 
Three became four with five minutes remaining. Matt Doherty coolly passed home after finding himself in space following a corner which Elizabethtown failed to clear.
 
After the game all the Belvedere players who won their first Ireland cap were honoured with a trophy from the club. Seven players from the squad for this game were honoured. Craig Sexton, Leigh Swords, Matt Doherty, Tom O’Halloran, Garvan Broughall, David Lodola and Paul Corry. Neil Harney who was out injured was also presented with his trophy.
 
Gary Burke was named Belvedere Senior Player of the Year, while Darragh Lenihan was named Young Player of the Year.
 
Belvedere manager John Moore presented Elizabethtown head-coach Skip Roderick with a framed tribute article to Noel O’Reilly written by Vincent Butler.
 
Noel’s brother Kieran, and partner Rose almost made short speeches after the game.
 
A very well contested game of football played on an excellent pitch between two passing teams, a fitting tribute to the legendary Noel O’Reilly.
 
Belvedere team - Craig Sexton, Shane Keely, David O’Connor (Tom O‘Halloran, 45), Garvan Broughall (Stephen Traynor, 75), Brendan Turley, Paul Corry, David O’Brien (Matt Doherty, 45), Jake Carroll, Gary Burke (Leigh Swords, 45), Shane Howard (Stuart Cooling, 30), David Lodola.
 
Report by Jamie Moore

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