Battling Bay have leaders in their sights
NORTH EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE Champs officially relinquish their NEFL league title
THE champions’ lingering hopes of retaining their title were extinguished with this result on Friday night. With only a game left mathematically they now can not catch the leaders after the latter’s win over the champions’ neighbours Quay Celtic the same night.
For the visitors it was a precious point as they battle to stay in the premier division, showing great character as they recovered from a dreadful start and falling two nil behind to in the end nearly snatching all three points as they outplayed the champions in the second half.
Brendan Hughes put the champions ahead inside the first minute when Tiarnan Mulvenna lifted the ball over the OMP goalkeeper to present his colleague with a simple task of scoring.
Mulvenna scored his side’s second goal, rounding off a nice piece of football, and they seemed to be cruising to victory at the break.
However, what they perceived as a soft penalty presented OMP with a way back into the game, which they duly availed of scoring from the spot.
It turned out then to be a totally different second period than the first with the visitors with the bit between their teeth drawing level.
Then in the closing stages they squandered a great opportunity to go ahead when one of their players went through on his own and with goalkeeper Michael Cooney alone standing in his way failed to hit the target.
They then had a big shout for a penalty when Brian Begley was robbed on the touchline and as he pursued the player who dispossessed him pushed him over and he fell in the box. Referee Joe Dyas ruled that the foul occurred outside rather than inside the box.
Mulvenna had the opportunity of earning all three points for the champions when he latched onto a misplaced headed clearance but hooked his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
MUIRHEVNAMOR: Michael Cooney, Craig Dixon (Paul Mallon), Chris Caulfield, Jimmy Cooney, Brian Begley, Thomas McShane, Mickey O’Kane, Gary Clarke, Wayne Robinson, Brendan Hughes, Tiarnan Mallon.
RATHMULLEN CELTIC BAY FC 0 1
FIRST and second in the third division met at a windswept Drogheda on Sunday, and Bay ended the home team’s long unbeaten run to at worst guarantee a play-off for the title if they win their last two matches.
Despite the scoreline it was a comfortable win for Bay who now trail their opponents by three points, with a game in hand.
Conditions didn’t lend themselves to playing attractive football with strong winds dictating play.
Bay grabbed what proved the only goal scoring early. Mark Larkin’s free kick was met by centre back Mario Kolak who made no mistake from inside the six yard box.
Paddy Connor put Quadri Olowo through moments later only for the latter to be hacked down by a Rathmullen defender who duly received his marching orders, leaving the home side to play the rest of the match with ten men.
Ryan Dillon could have made it two on the half hour. The Rathmullen ‘keeper fluffed his clearance, but Dillon couldn’t punish his mistake.
The second half played out much like the first with chances GLENMUIR staged a storming and glorious comeback to become the first team to book their place in the semi-finals of the Fitzsimons cup .
Trailing three nil with 20 minutes left, the home side erased the deficit in the remaining minutes and clinched a sensational victory with what proved the winning goal five minutes into extra-time at Glenmuir Park on Wednesday night.
The win underlines a remarkable turnabout for the winners who lost their first eight league games and were staring at relegation from the third division, but a transformation in form before and into the New Year, secured their safety.
Now they will take stopping to land their first silverware, and secure for manager Wayne Conroy the one missing trophy from his collection from C Reserve to few and far between. Olowo went close with a one on one but sent the shot straight down the keeper’s throat.
A late surge never materialized from Rathmullen and Bay saw out the game comfortably to claim a first victory at Rathmullen by any team in 18 months.
It was a superb performance especially by the back four and goalkeeper, who kept another clean sheet.
BAY: Kevin Mullen, Robbie Rafferty, Gavin Toner, Mario Kolak, Angelo Stanley, Afonso Crespo, Mark Larkin, Paddy Connor, Johnny Winters, Quadri Olowo, Ryan Dillon (Kevin Scollon 80).