Plunketts no match for Mattock
MATTOCK Rangers cruised through to the quarter-finals of the CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship with a comfortable victory over the Plunketts in Drogheda on Friday evening.
Goals from Aaron O’Brien, Adrian Reid and Alan Carragher proved the difference as the Collon outfit’s greater cutting edge saw them through against a game Plunketts outfit.
The game began after an impeccably observed minute’s silence for Mattock supporters Michael Power, Rose Everett and Peter Corrigan who all passed away recently.
Plunketts started well with Gerard Harran slotting over a free for the opening point of the game in the second minute after Conor Early was hauled down.
Mattock responded well, scoring the next three points with Conor Lenehan slotting the pick of the bunch with a wonderful score from way out on the left to give his side the lead.
The greasy pitch was causing problems for defenders as the game began to get scrappy with both sides conceding plenty of frees in the opening quarter. Plunketts goalkeeper stepped up to nail a long range free which left the scores all level at 0-4 apiece midway through the opening half.
Both sides traded points before Mattock made the breakthrough with an excellent move down the left.
Daniel Bannon was the creator as his pinpoint pass sent Aaron O’Brien clear and the corner forward made no mistake as he bore down on Luke Haggins in the Plunketts goal before finding the bottom of the net with a neat finish.
The industrious Gerard Harran responded with a wonderful score for the Plunketts to make it a one goal game once more as the first half neared completion.
However, there was still time for Adrian Reid to showcase his many skills as he turned his marker inside out before calmly slotting the ball over the bar.
Just before the short whistle Reid was once more in the thick of the action as he collected another excellent Daniel Bannon pass before unleashing a rocket of a shot which found the top corner of the net to give Mattock a decent looking 2-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.
Both sides traded points early in the second half before speed merchant Alan Carragher ended any realistic chances of a Plunketts win with a well taken goal after a quick free from David Reid sent him clear.
To the Plunketts credit they never let their heads drop and finished the game strongly with a couple of excellently taken scores from Trevor Walsh but ultimately Mattocks three goals proved costly for the Drogheda side as they fell to a 3-13 to 0-13 defeat to leave their championship hopes hanging by a thread.
MATTOCK RANGERS: Mike Englishby, Shane Maguire, Ciaran Calvey, Alan Carragher 1-1, Brendan Leacy, Sean Gilsenan, Michael McKeown 0-1, Daniel Bannon, Hugh Donnelly, Connor Lenihan 0-1, Adrian Reid 1-2, Ryan Lenehan, Terry Donegan, David Reid 0-6 (4f), Aaron O’Brien 1-2. Subs: Daire Englishby for Hugh Donnelly, James Carragher for Ryan Lenehan, JP Watters for Brendan Leacy, Shane Grimes for Aaron O’Brien, Ruairi Hickey for David Reid, Darren Henry for Alan Carragher.
OLIVER PLUNKETTS: Luke Haggins 0-2, Barry Reynolds, Sean Brassil, Cillian Matthews, Gary Keogh, James Guinn, Cian Matthews 0-1, Robert Brodigan, Conor Early, Sean Callaghan, Gerard Harran 0-2, David McTaggart, Emmet Kelleher, Rory Taaffe 0-1, Trevor Walsh 0-7 (5f). Subs: Kevin Keogh for James Guinn, Adam Brodigan for David McTaggart, David Lambe for Emmet Kelleher, Nathan Lewellyn for Gerard Harran, Niall Murtagh for Sean Callaghan, Sean Rice for Adam Brodigan.