Keavney’s the star for ruthless Rovers
BRIDGE ROVERS DUNCANNON F.C.
TOM Keavney was the star of the show for Bridge Rovers as they put Duncannon to the sword in their Youth Division 1 encounter in The Bogside on Saturday.
The talented Keavney put in a breath-taking display, helping himself to five goals in a clinical performance.
It wasn’t a one-man show, however, with the Castlebridge boys impressing all over the field as they attacked in droves from the off and never allowed the visitors to get any real foothold in the game.
It took the hosts nine minutes to make the breakthrough, when Darragh Malone played a pinpoint through ball and Tom O’Connor got a touch to divert it past goalkeeper Mark Waters.
Waters was again picking the ball out of his net six minutes later when Tom Keavney burst through and drilled a shot into the far corner.
Keavney grabbed his second on 20 minutes, finishing confidently after some wonderful approach play involving Hugh Manley, Gloudie Makieve and Darragh Malone.
The lively number ten almost completed his hat-trick on 29 minutes when he struck the crossbar, and at the other end Devin WallWalsh came agonisingly close to opening the Duncannon account when his shot came back off the far post after he had done well to make space for the shot.
Gloudie Makieve forced a fine save out of Mark Waters in the 34th minute and Keavney’s third goal arrived a minute later, when he ran on to Darragh Malone’s pass and clinically dispatched a shot out of the reach of the netminder.
A minute later it was 5-0, with the irrepressible Keavney bagging his fourth, sliding Tom O’Connor’s pass to the net.
Kieran White pulled a goal back for the seasiders three minutes after the interval, arrowing an accurate strike out of the reach of goalkeeper Adam Kelly, and the netminder was called into action to deny James Walsh in the 58th minute.
However, Bridge Rovers completely took the wind out of their sails moments later when Darragh Malone latched on to a long throw from substitute Matthew Kavanagh and rolled it to the net.
Duncannon had a chance to pull one back in the 68th minute, but Kieran White saw his penalty saved by Kelly, and Keavney again showed his predatory instinct in the 74th minute, racing through and calmly rounding the goalkeeper for his fifth.
Substitute Tiernan Malone had the final say for an impressive Bridge Rovers, gathering a pass from Darragh Malone before showing great composure to cut inside and confidently finish.
Ballymurn have started the campaign like a side that means business and they bagged their second win of the season on Sunday, seeing off Rosslare Rangers 5-2. Eoghan ‘Snowy’ Kehoe helped himself to a hattrick for the winners, with John Breen also getting on the scoresheet and Stephen Redmond scoring a cracker, with Tyrone O’Reilly and Jason Ellare replying for Rangers.
An Anthony Westnott goal was enough for Rathnure to make it two wins from two as they edged out Raheen, while Gary Collins, Danny O’Reilly and Garrett O’Brien got the goals for Rosslare Strand as they drew 3-3 with Bridge Rovers.
Michael Grangel rolled back the years by netting a hat-trick as New Ross Celtic beat Oylegate 3-2, with Stevie Ring and Ryan Hill replying.
Wexford Albion chalked up an impressive 4-1 win away to Shelburne, with goals from Kyle Mann, Pierce Dooley, Luke O’Neill and Ian McGuire.
Fethard Rangers also picked up three points, beating Rosbercon 3-1 with a Jean-Luc Tubritt double and a Jack Costello goal.
After the opening weekend’s thrilling 6-5 win over local rivals Carne, All Blacks had a more straightforward triumph on Sunday when winning 3-0 away to Castledockrell, thanks to a goal from Conor Breen and an Aaron Wright-Power double.
Corach Ramblers secured their second win by seeing off Carne 2-1, with Alan Diskin and Philly Murphy getting the goals
Eoin Ryan and Eamonn Whitty both netted doubles for St. Leonards as they made it two wins from two with a 4-2 victory in Bree.
Wes Bradley and Lee White got the goals for Adamstown as they also maintained their perfect start with a 2-1 triumph against Rosslare Port, while St. Cormac’s are also on full points after edging out Enniscorthy Town 2-1.
New Ross Town got on the scoresheet with an Adam Jones double and an own goal, but they went down 9-3 to Kiltealy Celtic, who have started the season with two emphatic victories.
David Doran netted four goals for Killenagh in their 6-1 win over Stoney Rovers, with Tom Hobbs and Oisin Dunbar also getting on the scoresheet.
David Donnelly bagged all three goals for Cushinstown as they saw off Ferns United 3-1.