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Having suffered a 1-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers in their opening League game our 14 Premier team under the new management of Joe Quinn, Willie Burke and Gareth McMullen were faced with a tougher challenge on Saturday at Shanowen Road when they faced main League rivals Belvedere F C in a game that had a special edge to it with Belvedere having a number of ex SKB players in their squad.
Right from the start the home side contested every ball and were sharper and stronger throughout the pitch and Daniel Madaghjian put them ahead after twenty minutes when he brilliantly side footed home a free kick from the left and he added his second just before half time from close range following good work down the right by Jack Kelly. Ryan Cassidy scored a third early in the second half and a couple more could have been added to the scoreline before Jason Noone locked down a Cian Clarke clearance to score a consolation goal late on for Belvedere. This was an important win confidence wise and they will be serious contenders for all honours this season.
Also on Saturday our 15 Premier started the Club's defence of the DDSL Conway Cup with a 3-1 away win over Crumlin United with goals from Luke Nolan, Jake Walker and a penalty from Jack Ryan.
On Sunday our 16 Premier started the Club's defence of the DDSL McGrath Cup with an emphatic 5-0 away win to St Josephs Boys despite never clicking into top gear. Thomas Byrne opened the scoring after ten minutes with a fine angled drive, Mikey Cregan tapped home the second following good work by Shane Stokes on the left and Stokes added a third before half time. Further goals in the second half from Richie English and Adam Doyle completed the scoring.
In the Leinster Youth Cup our 17 and 18 Super teams progressed but our 17 Major lost on penalties following a 2-2 draw away to Ballymun United.
This year's FAI Junior Cup will move on without SKB's participation following a surprising 3-2 home defeat by Dingle United. 2 down inside fifteen minutes they went a further goal behind early in the second half and the nearest they came to reducing the deficit was when Ciaran Nolan struck the post with a fine strike but Robbie Pearson's follow up was saved. Despite rallying with goals from Ross Harrison and Stephen Cantwell they couldn't add a third in what was a very disappointing performance.
