The Boat Cove Boys

In the middle of July when Ireland was moderately warm and the sea was, if not warm, ok to swim in for a few minutes at a time. A bunch of lads were jumping off the pier at Ardmore Boat Cove, but when we walked by, they were playing football and I think one team had scored a goal a moment before. 🙂


Apertureƒ/4.9
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length27.2mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

Moving the Goalposts by The Lough

When you want to play a game of football, you need to set your sights high and aim big. No point playing with 2 jumpers for the goalposts when you can bring the real thing from home!


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length10mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s

Benion makes a save

It was October 2007, and I was in Cobh to photograph the game between Cobh Ramblers and Dundalk FC. The visitors were beaten 1-0 but Chris Bennion stopped this attempt on goal.

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve photographed a football game, but this was the first one, a long time ago!


Apertureƒ/5.6
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length300mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/500s

Football on the beach

3 boys playing with a football on Garretstown Beach. The tide was coming in and I watched them kick the ball out into the water. The day was freezing though with a strong offshore wind. Brrrr.

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 144mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/125s

A big head is natural

I was setting up a shot by placing that wheel cap leaning on the bus shelter when these two teenagers ran across the road carrying a football goal between them!

Anyway, there’s the Murphy’s stout advert I wanted to shoot. I wonder if they advertise anywhere else in the country?

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/125s

Walking on air

My brother Cathal leapt into the air to head the ball when Kilkully Decking played Mulligans played at Turners Cross a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately they lost, but it was a great game of football. Cathal played a blinder!

Aperture ƒ/5
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 135mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/250s