Ardee spot-on as Rock suffer penalty woes
IT was a tale of two penalties at Sandy Lane on Friday night as Ardee Celtic converted a brace of spot kicks to earn a creditable point.
Rock have become the draw specialists of the Premier Division this season and had they turned their four stalemates into victories they’d be joint top of the table at this stage.
In terms of goals, this league clash only came to life in the last quarter, but there were plenty of scoring chances before that, with both goalkeepers kept busy in an end-to-end first half.
Lorcan Malone (twice) and Ryan Burns tested the Rock netminder, while Gareth Kane and Bryan O’Connor also went close, while Ardee’s keeper Stuart Reynolds made a number of saves before Niall Sharkey came to his aid with a goal-line clearance right on half-time.
On the restart it was a similar story, with both teams creating a number of opportunities but lacking
ROCK CELTIC ARDEE CELTIC 2 2
a killer instinct in front of goal. The best of Ardee’s chances fell to Sharkey, who headed straight at the Rock keeper, and Shawni Dowdall whose dipping shot went narrowly over the bar.
Just when it looked like this game was heading for a scoreless draw, the deadlock was broken - sparking a burst of four goals in the space of 21 minutes.
The clock was ticking into the last quarter when Burns played in O’Connor who was subsequently brought down by the Rock keeper for a penalty, and Robbie Reynolds duly converted.
However, Ardee’s lead lasted just four minutes as Derek Delany levelled for the hosts at the third attempt after two previous attempts had been blocked by the defence.
On the 80-minute mark O’Connor had a great chance but steered his shot into the arms of the Rock keeper, and immediately there was a scare for Ardee at the other end as a David Ward effort was ruled out for offside.
The former Dundalk striker was not to be denied, though, and on 83 minutes he headed to the Ardee net from a set-piece - 2-1 to Rock - with the visitors annoyed they hadn’t been awarded a free kick for a shirt-pull on Kane.
However, there was to be one final twist in the 88th minute as Burns was pulled to the ground for a second Ardee penalty and once more Robbie Reynolds stepped up to score from the spot.
Ardee could even have won the game in stoppage time, but Burns slipped as he went to shoot and his effort was deflected into the arms of Rock’s keeper.
ARDEE CELTIC: Stuart Reynolds, Aaron Roche, Ken Thornton, Niall Sharkey, Robbie Reynolds, Shawni Dowdall, John Bingham, Lorcan Malone, Gareth Kane, Ryan Burns, Bryan O’Connor. Subs: Pierce Hawkins, Tristan Knowles, Stuart Osborne.
Results
MONDAY OCT 8th
Div 3:
Kells Cel 2 Kilmessan 0.
WEDNESDAY OCT 10th
Div 2:
Bailieboro 2 Redeemer Cel 3.
B Res:
Glenmuir 0 Donacarney 3.
THURSDAY OCT 11th O’Neills Sports Div 1:
Albion 1 Parkvilla 2.
FRIDAY OCT 12th
Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup:
Muirhevnamor 6 Carrick 1.
Prem Div:
Rock Cel 2 Ardee Cel 2.
O’Neills Sports Div 1:
Kingscourt 1 OMP 1.
SATURDAY OCT 13th
Over 35 League Final Play-Off:
Doolargy All Stars 0 Rock Celtic 3,
Reserve Cup Quarter-Final:
Newfoundwell 4 Kentstown 2.
Gerry Reilly Mem Cup:
Carrick 2nds 2 Redeemer Cel 2nds 3; Torro 2nds 11 Virginia Cel 3rds 0.
Prem Res:
Muirhevnamor 2 Duleek 1.
A Res:
Parkvilla 7 Athboy 0.
B Res:
Robinstown 4 Glenmuir 3; Virginia Cel 2nds 3 Kilmessan 1.
SUNDAY OCT 14th
LFA Senior Cup Second Round
Evergreen FC 3 Trim Celtic 0.
Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup:
Bay FC 3 Boyne Harps 2; Bellurgan 5 Johnstown 0; Athboy Cel 0 Newfoundwell 3.
Kilmessan Shield:
Hazel Lane 4 Abbey Cel 2; Kilmessan 6 Navan Cosmos 3; Newtown 7 Fordrew 2; Torro 11 Electro Cel 0; Enfield Cel 3 Kells Cel 2.
O’Neills Sports Div 1:
Square 5 Kentstown 5.
Div 2:
Bailieboro 3 Oldcastle 3; Virginia Cel 2 Redeemer Cel 0.
Div 4:
Thatch FC 6 Millmount Cel 5.
Fixtures
Albion v Donacarney, J Crawley.
FRIDAY OCT 19th, 8.0
FAI Junior Cup Third Round (prov: dates, kick-offs & venues TBC):
St Kevins Boys v Bellurgan; Muirhevnamor v Ballyouster Utd, Brian Murphy; Parkvilla v St Pauls Artane, C Byrne.
Kilmessan Shield Second Round:
Kingscourt v Woodview, Kingscourt Astro, A McCann; Moneymore v Bailieboro, Drogheda DIFE Astro, 7.30, R Martin.
Gerry Reilly Mem Cup First Round:
Glenmuir 2nds v Albion 3rds, P Keogh.
Prem Div:
Rock Cel v Boyne Harps, D Carolan, J Crawley, T Little.
SATURDAY OCT 20th, 3.0
LFA Junior Shield First Round:
Lusk United v BJD Celtic, Rathmore Road, 2.30. prov.
Reserve Cup Quarter Finals:
Muirhevnamor v Virginia 2nds, Muirhevnamor Astro, M Gallagher; Trim Celtic v Ardee Celtic, B Srdjan.
Gerry Reilly Mem Cup First Round:
Donacarney 2nds v Hazel Lane 2nds, T Little; Parkvilla 2nds v Boyne Harps 2nds, J Regan; Robinstown 2nds v Athboy Cel 2nds, P Lynch; Bellurgan 2nds v Rock Cel 2nds, Gary Doyle; OMP 2nds v Duleek 2nds, MDL Astro, M Bryan.
Prem Res: Division 2 Division 4