Moore the merrier!
Last-gasp penalty earns a dramatic win for Ajax
LIAM Moore fired home an injury time penalty to give Ajax Athletic the Wexford Football League Division 3A title in dramatic fashion at Patrick Mernagh Park on Sunday morning last.
After a frantic second 45 minutes, which had seen the same Ajax midfielder blast a 54th minute spot-kick high and wide, the game looked to be heading for a draw, a result that would have left both clubs dissatisfied.
However, things changed in additional time. Glenn Fortune, who was already on the ground, was kicked from behind and referee Kieran Dunne pointed to the penalty spot.
Moore showed nerves of steel to step up again and fired low to Paul Bent’s left to start joyous Ajax celebrations.
As well as getting the dream end, Ajax also got the perfect start.
There was just sixty seconds on the clock when Moore headed Darren Morrissey’s left-wing corner back across the box and Sean Farnan turned it into the Forth Celtic net.
The Murrintown boys, who needed victory to leapfrog their opponents and move level at the top of the table with Rosslare Strand, quickly worked their way back into the game and went close twice through Aaron Whitty in the opening quarter.
Athletic seemed stuck between going for a second and defending their advantage and struggled to contain Celtic’s attacks as the half wore on.
Jason Russell held Anthony Hayes’ sharp shot from the edge of the area and then tipped his low half-volley around the post.
However, there was nothing he could do to stop Jack Roche’s 33rd minute header as Forth went in at the break on level terms.
It was a different story in the second half as Ajax began to dominate.
Several sessions of pinball, that saw Forth clear off the line and Bent make a stop ended with a handball that gave Ajax a penalty.
Moore missed the target with the spot-kick but his side never allowed their heads to drop.
The longer the game went on, the more men were thrown forward at both ends.
Ajax still looked the more likely with Farnan volleying over when unmarked in the 58th minute.
Athletic seemed to have blown their best chance in the last minute of normal time when Bent saved a one-on-one with Fortune but there was to be one last, title winning twist.
The success is extra special for the Enniscorthy town club, coming as it does in the year they celebrate their 50th in existence.
They do have to wait for the result of an appeal by Rosslare Stand into their defeat to neighbours Rangers two weeks ago but that didn’t dampen the mood at full-time.
AJAX ATHLETIC: Jason Russell; Ben Kirwan, Fenwick O’Shea, Ross Wilson, Adam Kirwan; Liam Murphy, Glenn Fortune, Liam Moore (capt.), Adam Fox; Sean Farnan, Darren Morrissey. Subs. - Jack Hadley for Murphy (74), Chris Hendrick for Morrissey (80), Sean O’Shea for B. Kirwan, inj (84), also, Ryan Hadley, James Buckley, Robbie O’Toole, Robbie Clifford.
FORTH CELTIC: Paul Bent; Rory Cullen, Gordon Simpson, Ger Doyle; Jack Roche (capt.), Jason Ellard, Luke White, Keith Murphy; Anthony Hayes, Aaron Whitty. Subs. - Michael O’Brien for Doyle (55), Dean Walsh for Roche (66), also, Liam Murphy, Aaron Price.
REFEREE: Kieran Dunne.