FASTNET STAY ALIVE
rely on an array of talented outfield players to take turns in goal, Rovers were able to stick Kelly in there and he was magnificent.
That quality was evident as early as the fourth minute, when James Lawless sprinted away and brought a fine save out of the Fastnet ‘keeper. At the other end livewire Justin McMahon went close twice in a minute, on the second occasion after great work in midfield by Bobby Reville.
Caim were beginning to look a little more dangerous, and had already seen a goal disallowed for offside, when they were even more unfortunate.
Lawless picked out Seán Murphy on the edge of the area and his shot arrowed towards the corner, flicked off Kelly’s glove and went through a hole in the net.
Well positioned but slightly unsighted, with bodies between him and goal, referee Lar Doyle wasn’t sure and gave a corner which eventually came to nothing. To add insult to injury, McMahon raced away in the 24th minute and fired through the net at the other end to open the scoring.
On the stroke of half-time the home side made it two, and Ben White was provider this time. His cross from the right fell to David McDonagh who was able to scoop over substitute goalkeeper Dylan Purcell to the net.
If 2-0 was harsh on the visitors at the break, three was downright painful five minutes after the re-start. Paudie Power played McMahon away from the Caim defence on the counter-attack, and he shot across the goal to the bottom corner.
After just being denied by a fine Jack Kelly save moments earlier, Pádraig Waters picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and riffled to the net to pull one back.
After a period of pressing, it was well and truly game-on when the same man turned inside the area and calmly fired home to make it 3-2.
As quick as a flash Fastnet broke straight from tip-off and White clinched the win with a classy finish. Caim did battle away, with Lawless and Waters both testing Kelly, but Rovers were not to be denied the points.