Taghmon take the Over-35 points

ST. LEONARDS TAGHMON UNITED 2 4

SATURDAY SAW St. Leonards travel to Horetown to take on Taghmon United in the latest round of Group A in the Richie Dwyer Memorial Over-35 league, eager to extract revenge following a 1-0 home defeat to their opponents earlier in the season.

They didn’t get off to the best of starts however, as after only three minutes the hosts had the ball in the net following some good build-up play down the right side.

The ball was played into the path of the incoming Shane Power and his fierce drive found the far corner of the net to give Taghmon an early lead.

Five minutes later, Taghmon had the ball in the net again but the referee correctly penalised the home side for an offside offence.

Leonards began to get a grip on the game soon after as Tommy Byrne, Cathal Somers and Paul Byrne began to influence proceedings, and Byrne finished brilliantly to the roof of the net after ten minutes following good work by Shane Cullen to square up the game.

Two more chances fell Tommy Byrne’s way but both were pulled wide before Kieran Kelly got on the end of a good Taghmon build-up but the shot from close range sailed over.

Some good defensive work from Bob Molloy saw Leonards break up field, and Matty Flynn cut in from the right side and his shot/ cross was somehow deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Malcom McLoughlin to put Leonards 2-1 up.

Brian Hennessy in the Leonards goal was called into action as a header from Adam Lawlor was saved onto the crossbar.

Just before the break, a long ball over the top was taken down majestically by Byrne who cut inside the defender and unleashed a low drive to the bottom corner, but McLoughlin in the Taghmon goal saved well.

The second-half saw Taghmon with two free-kicks early on - one warmed the hands of Hennessy whilst the other went past the post to Leonards’ relief.

Byrne again had two long-range efforts for Leonards going just wide.

Then came the pivotal moment of the game when Tommy Byrne had to leave owing to injury and Colin Bent went back sweeper for Taghmon, and almost immediately they were level.

The free-kick was headed home well by Jason McLoughlin, and two minutes later a Kieran Kelly free-kick found its way to the net through a crowded area.

Within five minutes Taghmon had made it 4-2 as Jason McLoughlin curled another free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner to give his side all three points.

Group A: Ross Celtic 0, St. Leonards 2; Duncannon 0, Campile United 4; Corach Ramblers 3, Ross Celtic 1.

Group B: Fastnet Rovers 2, All Blacks 1; Shamrock Rovers 6, Kilmore United 1.

Fixtures: Group B, Rosslare Rangers v. Forth Celtic (Tuesday, June 12).

Cup quarter-finals: Taghmon United v. All Blacks; Shamrock Rovers v. Rosslare Rangers; Campile United v. Corach Ramblers (Saturday, 5 p.m.); Ross Celtic v. Duncannon (Saturday, 3 p.m.).