3-0 LOSS FOR AGGRESSIVE RAVENSDALE
ON A glorious sunny day in Ravensdale, the North Louth Winter League quarter final game between the hosts, Ravensdale, and last year’s league winners, Greenfield, took place.
Right from the start both teams jockeyed for position and dominance of the ball but Ravensdale were the more aggressive and showed early promise.
Playing a 3-5-1-1 formation they controlled possession of the football in midfield as they out numbered the Greenfield men but Greenfield always looked dangerous on the counter attack with the lively Lee Wright causing problems.
Damien Connor marshalled the Ravensdale rearguard and was pulling the strings along with Michael Crilly and Eddie Duffy. And Greenfield though short on numbers (with the bare 11) but full of determination, energy and gusto, matched Ravensdale all the way in a very even first half. Chances were few but not taken.
The second half continued in similar fashion until Greenfield winger Noel Finnegan was put through to slot past the helpless keeper.
This forced Ravensdale to change personnel and go for the equaliser. Greenfield’s defense was brilliantly marshalled by the trojan pairing of Shane McKenna and Glen Mackin along with the brick wall of Gavin Dullaghan and Gavin Lennon in midfield.
This led to Greenfield playing counter attacking football and the second goal scored by Tommy McCoy after a neat onetwo. Ravensdale had to throw everything now to get back into the game and were duly dealt a hammer blow when Cathal O’Brien waltzed through to lob the onrushing keeper. This led to scenes of jubilation and even a cartwheel celebration by the goal scorer Robbie Keane.
The 3- 0 score line flattered Greenfield but the difference in this tight tense affair was Greenfield converted the chances they received. Final score Ravensdale 0 Greenfield 3.