Enniskerry bow out of Leinster Junior Cup
Classy Crettyard side put Wicklow outfit to the sword
FINALISTS in last year’s corresponding competition, Crettyard underlined their outstanding pedigree by putting Enniskerry Youth Club to the sword in this third round Leinster Junior Cup tie at Berryfield on Sunday morning.
With the exposed location between Enniskerry and Bray buffeted by strong winds which carried a Siberian-like feel, and the occasional shower thrown in as well, the extremely adverse elements conspired against the contest producing 90 minutes of constructive football.
But, to their credit, both sides did their level best to counteract the unfavourable weather conditions, with the result that the brave spectators who turned up witnessed a battle that lacked nothing in the levels endeavour and intensity throughout the course of its duration.
However, there could be no argument but that the visiting side, drawn from close to Carlow Town, and who play in the Carlow Premier League, coped with the conditions that bit better than their opponents, who looked to be in a favourable position when trailing by just one goal at half-time after playing against the wind in the first half.
Crettyard, who faced Sheriff United in the final of the 2018 Leinster Junior Cup, had taken the lead when Lee Salter finished to the net on 21 minutes.
But they also spurned a number of excellent scoring opportunities and the lone goal scarcely looked sufficient for them to carry into the second half.
Indeed, Enniskerry had good reason to harbour a significant degree of optimism about the eventual outcome of the game, as they had performed quite creditably against the wind, using the ball well and particularly so in the opening 15 minutes.
However, despite being backed by the wind in the second half, the Leinster Senior League Sunday Major League side largely failed to reproduce the quality and cohesive play of their first half performance, while, in contrast, Crettyard stroked the ball around in excellent fashion and invariably looked composed and relaxed when in possession.
So, it was no surprise that the visitors, who contained two Dublin-born players in their match panel, added to their tally on two additional occasions – through Danny Doyle 17 minutes into the second half, and through Salter for his second goal five minutes later.
Conversely, it was really only in the final 10 minutes that Enniskerry began to perform with some degree of conviction and self-belief, but really the Crettyard goalkeeper John Dunphy was a mere spectator for the bulk of the second 45 minutes.
Playing on their grass pitch, rather than the adjoining artificial surface, Enniskerry looked the more dangerous side in the early stages of the game, with Karl Mulligan forcing goalkeeper Dunphy into a save after three minutes.
Four minutes later, the action switched to the other end of the pitch, and adventurous left-back Craig Comerford was fouled just outside the penalty area.
But from the resultant free on the left side of the goal, Cristoir Maher drove the ball narrowly wide of the right post.
Then it was the home side’s turn to mount a menacing attack, and Paul Barr carried the ball forward in outstanding fashion before steering his shot narrowly wide of the right upright after 10 minutes.
With 15 minutes gone on the clock, Barr was once more in the thick of things, and, though about 30 yards out, he tried a speculative shot which was just off target.
Six minutes later, Enniskerry had cause to rue those missed opportunities in the wake of Doyle being fouled about 20 yards out.
From the resultant free taken by Maher, the ball broke loose and Salter was the first to react, driving the ball past goalkeeper Graham Mooney from close range.
In the ensuing 15 minutes, neither side’s goal was seriously threatened, but that pattern ended on 37 minutes when Crettyard should have extended their advantage.
On this occasion, Doyle brilliantly set up a clear scoring chance for Maher, only for the visiting No 6 to blaze his shot hopelessly wide.
And almost immediately Enniskerry experienced another stroke of good fortune, Doyle stroking the ball only inches wide of the right post, after being played in by Gearoid Geraghty.
As the teams headed to the sanctuary of the changing rooms for some brief respite from the vile conditions, Enniskerry must have been the more satisfied team during the half-time break.
But instead it was Crettyard who looked the more composed and assured team on the restart, and they went close to increasing their lead on 45 minutes, with Doyle shooting just over the bar following a great pass from Maher.
However, on 62 minutes the home side found themselves two goals adrift, Doyle finishing to the net after an excellent cross from Comerford.
Five minutes later, goalkeeper Dunphy was called into action for the first time in the second half, going down low to keep out a shot from Barr.
However, almost immediately the contest was virtually put beyond Enniskerry’s reach, Salter striking for his second goal in the wake of some excellent play by Maher.
Just before the end, Enniskerry’s Andrew Knight had a shot saved by goalkeeper Dunphy, and teammate Barr went close to spectacularly scoring direct from a corner with a right-footed inswinger which was headed clear off the line.
Immediately after the final whistle, the Crettyard party rushed off to nearby Enniskerry village to watch the televised coverage of the Gaelic football Leinster Club final between Eire Og, from Carlow Town, and Dublin’s Ballyboden St Enda’s.
CRETTYARD: John Dunphy; Seamus Dowling, Craig Comerford, Ger Murray, Bobby Dowling, Cristoir Maher, Gearoid Geraghty, Jack Brady, Danny Doyle, Lee Salter, Anto Fitzsimons. Subs: Luke Ramsbottom for Brady (71), Evan Phillips for Geraghty (71), James Rothwell for Seamus Dowling (76), Luke Maher for Salter (81).
ENNISKERRY: Graham Mooney; Alex Cameron, Michael Donegan, Shane Fitzpatrick, Adam Jordan, Brendan Cowan, Andrew Knight, Paul Barr, Paul O’Reilly, Karl Mulligan, Luke O’Sullivan. Subs: Alan Acres for O’Sullivan (60), Nathan Kelly for Jordan (60), Robert Plunkett for O’Reilly (70). REFEREE: Brian Whelan.