Peare puts Moyne on path to victory
A DOUBLE from John Peare within three first-half minutes sent Moyne Rangers on their way to an ultimately comfortable win over Bridge Rovers at The Bogside in Castlebridge on Sunday.
That said, the Castlebridge strugglers managed to find holes in the title-hopefuls’ defence at times and when Shane Hogan netted to leave the hosts just a goal adrift less than ten minutes into the second-half, the favourites looked to have a real battle on their hands.
They weathered the storm though, and a James Peare strike followed by a Peter Marsden penalty put them firmly back in the driving seat.
Kevin Byrne did manage to pull a goal back for Rovers late on, but Moyne Rangers had the final say when Dillon Redmond put the icing on the cake deep into injury time.
The visitors had begun game on the front foot and they had the first sight of goal inside five minutes when Redmond had to stretch to get his head to a James Peare cross but his effort rose over the top.
With 11 minutes on the clock Ryan Mahon was teed up by John Peare at the edge of the area but his strike lacked the power to trouble Graham Lawlor and moments later Alan Tobin lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper but saw his shot clear the crossbar.
Bridge Rovers were doing a decent job of frustrating Moyne, but midway through the half they showed they posed an attacking threat themselves, when Steven Carr’s first-time effort fizzed wide.
The visitors continued to look the more likely though, with Dillon Redmond and Alan Tobin both trying their luck, before they eventually made the breakthrough in the 34th minute.
Cian Larkin did well to find Pa O’Shea, and when the defender played in John Peare his deflected effort flew past Lawlor.
The celebrations had barely died down when Moyne Rangers had their second, and again it was Peare who did the needful. Dillon Redmond whipped in an inviting cross from the left wing to the inrushing Peare, who steered the ball into the corner of the net.
They should have added a third before the interval, when Ryan Mahon’s corner fell to the feet of Pa O’Shea, but he scooped his close-range effort over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Bridge Rovers needed a positive start to the second-half if they harboured any hopes of taking something from the game and they came close to gaining a foothold a minute after the change of ends when Simon Murphy’s free-kick whistled wide of the right post.
They threatened again in the 54th minute when Dan Murphy met a sweet cross from Reilly Sands, but Pa Doyle got down to make a smart save.
The reprieve was short-lived, however, as seconds later Rovers had the goal their endeavour deserved.
Kevin Byrne sent Shane Hogan in the clear with a sumptuous pass with the outside of his right boot and the attacker made no mistake, curling a left-footed shot out of the reach of Doyle.
Moyne Rangers looked rattled for a few minutes, but they got their mojo back when James Peare grabbed their third goal in the 68th minute.
Alan Tobin sent in a searching delivery from the right wing and Peare arrived at the far post to force the ball over the line.
Moyne Rangers gave themselves some breathing space in the 77th minute when substitute Peter Marsden blasted in a penalty off the inside of the right post after Ryan Mahon had been fouled in the area.
To their credit Bridge Rovers continued to attack with purpose, and they got their reward in the 90th minute when Kevin Byrne fired in from an acute angle.
However, Moyne ended the game on a high with a delightful fifth goal in the fourth minute of injury time, with Cian Larkin play- ing a pinpoint pass into the path of Dillon Redmond, who finished with aplomb.
BRIDGE ROVERS: Graham Lawlor, Simon Murphy, Niall Murphy, Mark Mythen, Reilly Sands, Shane Murphy, Colin Redmond, Terry Gainfort, Shane Hogan, Dan Murphy, Steven Carr. Subs. - Jody Hynes for Gainfort (40), Kevin Byrne for Carr (40), Evan Carr for Shane Murphy (62), Andy Doyle for Redmond (74), Martin Walsh for Simon Murphy (74).
MOYNE RANGERS: Pa Doyle, Rory O’Connor, Pa O’Shea, Graham Donohoe, Seán Burke, James Peare, Cian Larkin, John Peare, Dillon Redmond, Ryan Mahon, Alan Tobin. Subs. - Peter Marsden for James Peare (68), Lenny Connolly for Tobin (71), Anthony Russell for Mahon (76).
REFEREE: Derek Campion.