CHAMPIONSHIP2018
Relieved Rangers hold firm to advance
CTI Business Solutions IFC Group B IT wasn’t as close or as entertaining as the scoreline suggests, but Mattock Rangers won’t be worried either way, as they joined St Bride’s in the quarter-finals of the Intermediate Championship.
For the second time in three seasons, Clan Na Gael were left clutching the wooden spoon in the proverbial group of death and will now have to keep their wits about them for a relegation play-off.
That shouldn’t pose too many problems for Mark McCann’s troops, but they were targeting a quarter-final spot and some revenge on these two sides after they suffered the same fate in 2016.
A late Ciran O’Connor penalty took some of the gloss off Mattock’s victory in terms of the scoreline, but they were comfortable throughout and probably should have made a better fist of over-hauling St Bride’s score difference advantage, which stood at six points before throw-in.
But the Knockbridge men advanced as group winners to secure seeding in the quarter-final draw, but Mattock boss John Kennedy would have taken your hand off for a knockout spot of any description beforehand.
His team made by far the better start and that was to prove crucial by the finish.
They were four up inside five minutes as Niall McKeown, Aaron O’Brien, Ronan Kilbane and Cathal Clarke all fired over from open play in a whirlwind opening by the Collon outfit.
Leo Martin and Mark McGeown pulled a couple back, but Mattock flexed their muscles again to move 0-7 to 0-2 ahead by the end of the opening quarter.
They seemed to be in almost total control at that stage, but this Clans team always possess a potent goal threat and a second Leo Martin point was swiftly followed by a Billy Smith goal when Conall McKeever caught the Mattock defence napping with a quick free to set the big full forward up for a straightforward finish.
Mattock recovered with points from Ronan Kilbane and James Caraher, which sandwiched a Mark Newell point to leave just two between the sides at the break, 0-9 to 1-4.
But Mattock repeated their slick start to the match by bolting from the traps again after the break, plundering a David Reid point, followed swiftly by a wellworked goal.
Both Brendan Leacy and Cathal Clarke appeared to be fouled in the build-up, but Brian Brady played the advantage rule superbly and after staying on his feet, Clarke slotted a cool finish under Sean Smyth to make it 1-10 to 1-4.
Clans certainly didn’t lie down and managed to whittle that six-point gap back to two by the 56th minute, but they were throwing caution to the wind at that stage and Mattock took full advantage with a breakaway goal.
David Reid secured possession between halfway and the 45m line, but with the Clans operating a high line it took just one pass into space to release Brendan Leacy, who swallowed up the ground and slotted a cool finish past Smyth.
Clans continued to press but they were fighting a losing battle and with Mattock only needing a draw to advance, a David Reid free in stoppage time that made it 2-13 to 1-12 and ensured Clans needed 1-2 or even two goals to keep their Championship hopes alive.
They managed one goal in the fifth minute of added time when former Dundalk striker O’Connor won and converted a penalty, but it proved to be the last kick of the game.
MATTOCK RANGERS: Mike Englishby; Alan Caraher, Daire Englishby, Sean Gilsenan; Brendan Leacy 1-0, Niall McKeown 0-2, James Caraher 0-1; Terry Donegan, Hugh Donnelly; Cathal Clarke 1-1, Aaron O’Brien 0-2, Michael McKeown; David Reid 0-2 (1f), Adrian Reid, Ronan Kilbane 0-3. Subs: Ben McKenna 0-1 for N McKeown (41), JP Watters 0-1 for J Caraher (58), Conor Lenaghan for B Leacy (60+), Dan Bannon for H Donnelly (60+), Shane Maguire for C Clarke (60+).
CLAN NA GAEL: Sean Smyth; Kevin Carroll, Michael McDonnell, Donal Boyle; Stephen Fitzpatrick, Paul Crewe, Craig Long; Leo Martin 0-3, Robbie Curran 0-6 (5f, 1’45’); Conor Noonan, Paul Gore, Conall McKeever; Mark Newell 0-1, Billy Smith 1-0, Mark McGeown 0-2. Subs: Ray McCabe for C Noonan (14), Ciaran O’Connor 2-0 (1-0) for M McGeown (26), M McGeown for B Smith (38).
REFEREE: Brian Brady. ST Kevins booked their place in the quarter finals of the Louth Intermediate Championship at the expense of Na Piarsaigh on Saturday evening in Tallanstown.
In an rare open game of football, the Philipstown men can thank the stinging palms of their goalkeeper Danny Crosbie for that place, as the net minder saved a pile driver from Naps centre back Joe Woods right at the death, but in all reality the game should never have been down to a one score game in the dying minutes.
Patrick Clarke’s brilliance in the full forward line had St Kevins in comfortable positions on the scoreboard on numerous occasions throughout the game, but a combination of mental lapses that will worry their manager Johnny Magee and Na Piarsaigh’s sheer doggedness brought the sides closer than it ever should have been.
An illustration of this dominance was the opening barrage of points from the men in red and black as they blistered into a 8-1 lead with less than a quarter of an hour played.
Na Piarsaigh full forward Alan McCartney opened their account but Patrick Clarke helped himself to three points in a row in this period with further scores coming from Seanie and Lee Crosbie, Shane Meade and Liam Boylan.
Mark Larkin missed a guilt edge goal chance for the Dundalk side in the 13th minute and with St Kevins looking so comfortable you would have been forgiven if you thought the game was up. On the contrary, Larkin popped up with a redeeming score and McCartney quickly followed.
Another Clarke point couldn’t halt Damien Shields side’s momentum as they went to fire four unanswered scores in a row from the Woods twins, Eamon McAuley and a Ciaran Murphy free as Kevin’s lost midfielder Séan Callan to a black card.
Veteran Liam Boylan used all the composure that he accumulated down the years to steady his side with a fine score and Cian Callan intercepted to show their dominance on the scoreboard. However, McCartney and Lyons made it an unlikely two point game at the break 11-9.
Clarke once again provided Kevin’s with a point upon the restart as he danced inside the Na Piarsaigh cover. Magee’s team didn’t push on and McCartney with an audacious effort from a side line ball and Robbie Murphy made it a one point game.
Eoin McKenna and substitute Niall Franklin traded points before Clarke struck a cruel blow to Na Piarsaigh’s chances. Having worked so hard to get into the game, the goal came against the run of play against the Dundalk side this time.
Clarke seized on the flight of a long direct ball from Liam Boylan which Shane Roddy could only get his finger tips to, and instead of intercepting, the touch slowed down the pace of the ball and Clarke easily collected and buried past Adam Molloy who was introduced at the break.
Seanie Crosbie and Larkin traded points but on the counter, McCartney buried a goal for his side who didn’t know when to give up. Remarkably Robert Murphy levelled the game shortly after.
Once the challenge was presented, St Kevins upped the ante and it was Clarke who was on hand to fire two in row and Philipstown to safety.
Eamon McAuley saw red for a two yellow cards and Dylan Maher ended the scoring with a booming effort before Crosbie’s heroics and goal mouth scrambles at the death as Na Piarsaigh simply wouldn’t give up.
ST KEVINS: Danny Crosbie; Michael Grogan, Barry Byrne, Matthews Downes; Dylan Maher 0-1, Enda McKenna, Patrick Duff; Seanie Crosbie 0-2, Séan Callan; Cian Callan 0-2, Liam Boylan 0-2, Lee Crosbie 0-1; Eoin McKenna 0-1, Patrick Clarke 1-9 (1f) Shane Meade 0-1. Subs: James Clarke for Sean Callan BC (27), Niall Craven for S Meade (55).
NA PIARSAIGH: Peter Gallagher; Fergal Mulholland,Jarlath Lyons 0-1, Shane Roddy; Conall Shields, Joe Woods 0-1, Stephen McGuinness; Ronan McCartney, Gerard Smyth; Robbie Murphy 0-2, Michael Woods 0-1, Ciaran Murphy 0-1 (1f); Mark Larkin 0-2, Alan McCartney 1-4 (1sl), Eamon McAuley 0-1. Subs Adam Molloy for P Gallagher (ht), Niall Franklin 0-1 for G Smyth (20) Stevie Arrowsmith for N Franklin (59).