Points shared in exciting contest
CROSSABEG A.F.C. CLOUGHBAWN
THE sides came away with a point apiece after an entertaining Division 2 contest in Crossabeg on Sunday.
It was a high-octane game, which both sides felt they had the chance to win, but in reality neither deserved to lose and to borrow a well-worn cliché a draw was a fair result.
Cloughbawn would be fancied by many to be in the shake-up for honours come the season’s end, but the hosts were in no mood to sit back and admire them and they couldn’t have wished for a better start, pouncing on some early hesitancy in the visitors’ defence to take the lead inside four minutes.
Ciarán Marlow picked out the inrushing Dave Berney to the right of the goal and he angled a drive past goalkeeper Billy Dunne that nestled in the back of the net.
Crossabeg continued to attack with menace in the early stages, with Peter Culleton whipping a dangerous ball across the face of goal and Ciarán Marlow curling an effort wide of the right post.
Cloughbawn began to get a foothold in the game, however, and a ferocious long-range shot from Martin Kehoe forced goalkeeper Shane McDonald to tip over in the 19th minute.
From the resulting corner, the visitors again threatened, with David Doyle-Murphy skewing an effort narrowly wide after Martin Kehoe had headed James Redmond’s inswinging corner into his path.
Cloughbawn, who came into the game with two wins out of two, got the break they needed two minutes later when netminder McDonald came off his line to gather Paudie Kehoe’s free into the danger zone, but under pressure he let the ball slip from his grasp and it found its way to the net.
Moments later Connal Flood threatened when he headed a long ball from Paudie Kehoe wide of the left upright, and he came within a whisker of firing his side ahead in the 27th minute when his shot squirmed through the arms of Mc- Donald, but with Cloughbawn appealing for a goal to be awarded, referee Michael Comiskey ruled the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
At the other end Oisín O’Connor was presented with a decent opportunity after good work from Dave Berney, but his effort was blocked and Berney’s follow-up was also thwarted.
In an end-to-end encounter, Cloughbawn had one more effort before the break, with Páidí Cullen teeing up Martin Kehoe, but McDonald got a hand to the shot.
Crossabeg started the second-half well, and they came within the width of a coat of paint of getting their noses back in front five minutes after the interval, with Mark Crosbie glancing Joe Wilson’s corner goal-wards, but his effort came back off the inside of the post.
Goalkeeper Billy Dunne was thanking his lucky stars on that occasion but there was nothing fortunate about his contribution in the 63rd minute when he pulled off a top-class save, brilliantly tipping Cian Boggan’s well-struck longrange effort over the bar.
Substitute James Quinn then met Ciarán Barlow’s corner with a clean volley, but it was always rising over the top.
As they had in the opening period, Cloughbawn improved as the half wore on and with ten minutes remaining Willie Murphy fired a cross across the face of goal, but Cian Boggan did well to deny Connal Flood what looked like a certain goal.
Cloughbawn created a couple of half-chances to snatch a late winner, with Flood shooting off target and James Dempsey heading Paudie Kehoe’s cross wide, but a goal at that stage would have been rough justice on the committed hosts.
Rosslare Port proved much too good for Forth Celtic on Sunday, running out convincing 5-1 winners thanks to doubles from Ciarán Kehoe and Shane Lawless and a goal from Warren Murphy, with Adam McLoughlin replying.
‘Munch’ Cash had his shooting boots on for Enniscorthy Town, netting a hat-trick to help his side to a 5-1 win over Bunclody.
Bunclody took the lead but Town stormed back in style, with Wayne Breen and Joe Hyland (penalty) also hitting the back of the net.
Enniscorthy United were also celebrating a win as they ran out convincing 4-0 victors in Bree, with Andrew Sherlock, Hasane Smyth and Tyler O’Connor (two) getting the goals.
Cillian Cushe and Columb Sheridan hit the back of the net for Gorey Rangers as they beat Shamrock Rovers 2-0, while Cushinstown saw off Ajax Athletic 2-1, with Robert Kehoe and Mark Lee scoring for the winners.
Oylegate earned the local bragging rights when overcoming Ballymurn 2-1 on Sunday.
A Eunan Sludds goal and a 25-yard screamer from John McCormack put Oylegate in control, and although Ballymurn pulled a goal back they held out for the victory.
Bridge Rovers came away from Rosbercon with a hardearned three points, winning 3-2 thanks to goals from David O’Brien (two) and Stephen Carr.
Tyrone O’Reilly and Eoin Collins got the goals for Rosslare Rangers in their 2-1 win over Fethard, while Danny O’Reilly was the hat-trick hero for Rosslare Strand as they beat Rathnure 4-2, with Gary Collins getting their other goal.
New Ross Celtic also picked up three points, winning 4-1 away to Shelburne with goals
Cloughbawn made it three wins from three on Sunday as they edged out Gorey Celtic 2-1, with a 30-yard thunderbolt from Peter Furlong setting them on their way.
Adrian Cullen grabbed their other goal, with Colm Stafford replying for Celtic.
Glynn-Barntown went on a scoring spree against Ballymurn, winning 10-2, with Trevor Berry scoring four, Robert Dempsey bagging a hat-trick and the rest coming from Rioghan Crosbie (penalty), Ben O’Brien and an own goal.
A goal from Mark Browne was enough to earn Wexford Albion the points in Tombrack, while Paddy Roche and Eoin Mythen got the goals for Campile United in their 2-1 away win over Wexford Celtic.
Enniscorthy United also won on the road, beating St. Joseph’s 3-1 with goals from Bill Rigley, Joe Millar and Dylan Groarke, while Taghmon United and Boolavogue drew 1-1, with Mick O’Grady scoring for the former and Lee Murphy replying.
Eoin Ryan and Seamie Kehoe got the goals for St. Leonards as they continued their winning run with a 2-1 triumph over New Ross Town on Sunday, with Dylan Delaney replying for Town.
A goal from David Doyle was enough for Killenagh to edge out Rosslare Port, while Bree United won 5-0 away to Stoney Rovers.
Kieran Finn scored a double for Adamstown, but it wasn’t enough to earn them anything from the game as they lost out 3-2 to Ferns, while Liam Walsh grabbed the equaliser for St. Cormac’s as they drew 1-1 in Camolin.
Elsewhere, Enniscorthy Town proved much too good for Cushinstown, winning 4-0 thanks to goals from Barry Walsh, Shane Dempsey (two) and ‘Boo’ Breen.