BLUE MAGIC SHOW CHARACTER AS THEY BATTLE BACK FOR PERFECT CAMPAIGN

BLUE MAGIC .................8

REAL TRANSILVANIA....4

THREE-NIL down and then 4-1 down, Blue Magic had to go deep in the well of character to overcome a battling Real Tranilvania in an excellent AUL Futsal League tie at the National Indoor Arena on Tuesday evening. 

The victory for Blue Magic preserved their perfect record to complete their 12-match programme with maximum points netting a remarkable 133 goals and conceding just 26. 

In the opening period it looked as if second placed Real Transilvania would put a big blot of the Blue Magic copybook as they raced into a three-nil lead and then a 4-1 lead as the champions found themselves in a position they have not found themselves in for several years. 

By EAMON SCOTT

But Blue Magic have a brilliant work ethic, refused to panic and showed bags of character to run down Real Transilvania's advantage before hitting the afterburners with four late goals to put a bit of gloss on the final score. 

Real Transilvania have improved leaps and bounds and will feel that sooner or later they will post a victory over their arch-rivals and especially in the first-half they must have thought this was the night it would come together for them.

Real Transilvania who had come within a goal of their opponents last Sunday in Gormanston College when Blue Magic edged an AUL Futsal Cup tie 6-5 in a titanic battle.  It was a close encounter and Blue Magic struggled to impose their passing game and a fired up Real Transilvania pressed hard around the court and got in countless blocks to break up promising Blue Magic moves.

Last Sunday Blue Magic has to play without their talisman captain Ian Byrne who was away on international duty with Jim Crawford’s Republic of Ireland Under 21s backroom staff.

Byrne, the league's top goalscorer was back on duty and weighed in with a couple of goals on the night.

Blue Magic were also without the suspended Gabriel Saldahna and the injured Matheus Coelho - two blue Magic players who always see plenty of court time.

Real Transilvania powered into this league encounter and stunned their opponents when a ricochet off  Gabriel Marco from Gilherme Cardosa's shot rebounded to an empty net with 15.32 on the clock. 

Netminder Cardosa picked up an injury off Real Transilvania's opening goal and replacement Felipe Furtado  took over between the posts. 

Marco was to add a second from close in and Alex Pop added a third before Gabriel Micoski reduced the arrears.

Then just before the interval Andrei Boros squeezed a tight angled shot and although parried by Felipe Furtado, there was enough pace to carry the ball over the line with match official Dave Pender well positioned to see all of the ball over the line as Real Transilvania restored their advantage with a 4-1 lead

There were strong words from Blue Magic head coach Sinisa Sicar during that halftime interval and Andre Ribeiro  reduced the arrears just over minute into the second period before skipper Ian Byrne found the net with 17.33 remaining for 4-3. 

The equaliser arrived on 13.55 with Eugeniu Anitoaie firing home to the delight of his team mates on the court and on the bench. Back in the game, Blue Magic were finding their mojo, but Real Transivania were not lying down.

The intensity of Blue Magic in the second period was in sharp contrast to the opening period where their sluggishness and wayward shooting had proved costly. 

But they finally clicked into gear and took the lead for the first time at 5-4 when a set-piece goal saw Gabby Micoski rifle an unstoppable shot past the Real Transilvania goalkeeper with 7.17 remaining on the countdown. 

Byrne then doubled up when Real Transilvania decided to introduce a fly-keeper but they lost possession almost immediately and Byrne was able to find the net for his 22nd goal of the league campaign, stroking the ball to an empty net. 

That was with 4.15 remaining and Blue Magic were happy to keep ball and run the clock down. Real Transilvania struggled to get any meaningful time on the ball in those closing minutes and  Blue Magic were to cap off their league campaign in style with a sweeping move involving several pin-point passes and Eugeniu Anitoaie was well positioned to hook the ball into the roof of the net for his side's eight goal with 16.7 seconds remaining. 

AUL Futsal Director Tony Martin was on hand to present Blue Magic captain Ian Byrne with the league trophy as his team mates belted out a quick round or Championes, Championes!

The sides will battle it out again on Friday evening in Gormanston College Indoor in the second instalment of the best of three AUL Futsal Cup ties and it's  must win for Real Transilvania, but expect Blue Magic to have something to say about that as they close in on a clean sweep for the season. 

The two sides will also meet in the upcoming FAI Futsal Cup final where a place in the UEFA Futsal Champions League is on offer to the winning club.

It should be a fascinating encounter and expect another titanic battle between these two fierce rivals.

A mention for the match officials of Pat Henry, Dave Pender and Jack Keating who kept the game on a tight leash and genuinely contributed to the entertainment value - always difficult when there are continual challenges to decisions.  It's part of the game and you need a clear head to deal with making the right call and that's exactly what the trio achieved.