McGraynor to the ‘four’
Oisin’s on song for Avonmore as they see off Rovers
WICKLOW ROVERS AVONMORE 2 7
AVONMORE made the trip down to Whitegates in Wicklow to battle it out against Wicklow Rovers in the John Tobin Youth League and put in an impressive dominating performance with a thumping 7-2 victory over their league rivals.
Avonmore started the game with complete control over their opponents in the opening minutes of the game with the travelling side doing all the attacking.
Avonmore strikers Oisin McGraynor and Mark Cullen were combining well in the final third of the pitch but failed to take any of their chances.
Avonmore midfielder Jack Manley thought he had opened the scoring in the 14th minute for his side when he reacted first after a well delivered free kick rebounded off the post and out to Manley but he snatched at the shot and put his effort just wide.
A huge let off for Rovers as their defending was poor for the free kick as Manley was unmarked on the edge of the box.
Avonmore had their first goal of the game minutes later when Callum Busher produced a great run down the left wing and cut inside to the corner of the penalty area to get a head on a brilliantly delivered cross from Ross Ward.
Busher’s connection was perfect and glanced the ball up and over Rovers keeper Dylan O’Connor.
Busher’s determination to get to the ball and then make the perfect connection with the ball was exceptional.
Avonmore started to turn up the heat on their league rivals and quickly put another goal past O’Connor.
It started with a great run down the right wing in the 21st minute by striker Oisin McGraynor, McGraynor flew past challenge after challenge and could have went down for a free kick at the corner flag but the attacker stayed on his feet and cut inside before driving a low cross right in front of goal and it was met by Mark Cullen who couldn’t miss and slotted the ball home to give the away side a two-goal cushion.
Rovers were trying to get themselves back into the game after a poor start but failed to make any of their chances count and couldn’t not capi- talise.
Rovers striker Nathan Sullivan was causing serious damage to the Avonmore defence every time he got the ball to his feet, the striker was always looking to receive the ball, turn and run at the Avonmore defenders but his efforts on goal were to tame for keeper Aidan Murray.
It wasn’t long before Avonmore scored their third goal of the game.
The away side were gifted a golden opportunity when Rovers keeper punched a shot away from Dale Fluskey but unfortunately for O’Connor his clearance fell to McGraynor who fired the ball home to make it 3-0 in the 31st minute.
Rovers got a life line just on the stroke of half time when Sean Farrell grabbed one back after some great work again by Nathan Sullivan. The hosts were trailing by two goals as the first half finished 3-1.
Avonmore did not let up in the second half even though the hosts were much more confident in possession and looked to try open up the Avonmore defence but the travelling side held firm and scored three more goals to put the game out of the reach of their opponents.
The fourth goal came from a corner delivered in by Mark Cullen who found the head of Ryan Kenny who flicked the ball to the right hand corner of the net.
Oisin McGraynor grabbed his second and third on the 64th and 69th minute, the striker had been a huge threat to the Wicklow Rovers defence and deserved to get his hat-trick.
The striker’s second was a rebounded effort on goal which left the Rovers keeper flat footed, his third was created by Luke Sheridan who made a brilliant run toward goal before squaring the ball across the goal line to McGraynor who slotted home again.
Rovers responded by grabbing a consolation goal in the 70th minute scored by Nathan Sullivan who went one on one with the Avonmore keeper and slipped the ball under Murray who failed to get down quickly enough.
Sullivan had been Rovers best player throughout the game but often found himself isolated up front on his own.
McGraynor nabbed his fourth and final goal of the game on the 81st minute, the striker finished off a great week after scoring for his county in the game against NDSL last weekend and scoring four against league rivals Wicklow Rovers on Saturday evening.
Wicklow Rovers: 1. Dylan O Connor, 2. Cian O Brien, 3. Luke Whyte, 4. David O Connor,
5. Shane Cullinan, 6. Miguel Moralejo, 7. Dylan Frazer, 8. Sean Leonard, 9. Sean Farrell,
10. Shane Lincoln, 11. Nathan Sullivan. Subs: Ciaran Keogh for Miguel Moralejo (32min), Tom O Shea for Dylan Frazer (72min), Nathan Gersted for Shane Lincoln (76min).
Avonmore: 1. Aidan Murray,
2. Ross Ward, 3. Ryan Kenny, 4. Zach Cullen, 5. Eric Olohan, 6. Liam Dickensen, 7. Jack Manley, 8. Callum Busher, 9. Oisin McGraynor, 10. Dale Fluskey,
11. Mick Cullen.
Subs: Cody Reid for Liam Dickensen (60min), Craig Wall for Jack Manley (71min), Daniel Hagan for Calum Busher (79min), Daniel Morley for Oisin McGraynor (82min), Ross Mevvy for Ross Ward (85min).
Referee: Jay Redmond.