The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Asdee down Ballyheigue in derby
Ballyheigue Athletic 0 Asdee Rovers 2
TWO stunning second half goals by Gavin Casey catapulted Asdee Rovers into second place in the Division 1A league table after a crucial win over Ballyheigue Athletic at rain and windswept Mounthawk Park on Friday night.
This was a game the Shannonsiders had to win to keep their title aspirations alive and they had to dig deep to get the better of a spirited Ballyheigue side whose outside chance of making the final have now ended after this defeat.
The game was played in awful weather conditions with persistent rain and a strong gale blowing across the pitch which made it virtually impossible to play any kind of decent football. To their credit both sides battled gamely and are to be commended for the effort they put in to try and come to terms with the adverse weather conditions.
In a poor first half the highlights of which could be written on the back of a matchbox most of the play was between the two opposing boxes with neither goalie having too much to do.
Asdee were on top territorially with Seamus O’Sullivan, Paudie O’Neill and Darragh Keane winning the battle at midfield, but their play was breaking down in the final third of the pitch and the last passes were going astray.
They were carrying the bigger scoring threat from the very outset and they created an early chance with John Horgan forcing an opening for Alec Laurent, but his shot was too close to the Ballyheigue keeper and he made an easy save.
Down the other end Ballyheigue hit on the counter- attack but an effort on goal by Frankie Flaherty was outside the right - hand post.
A foul on Frankie Flaherty gave Ballyheigue a free kick is a good position in the 35th minute and while Pa McElligott hit it well Asdee goalkeeper Eoin Tydings made a comfortable save.
Asdee went close to opening their account just before the break after good build up play down the right wing Alec Laurent cut in and his low shot brought a good save out of the Ballyheigue goalie Felix Jacob.
The weather deteriorated significantly at the start of the second half with the wind increasing accompanied with torrential rain. Asdee began on the front foot and they went ahead in the 54th minute with an excellently crafted goal.
The passage of play began down the right flank at the end of which Ian Mannix delivered a superb over the top ball to Gavin Casey who ghosted in at the back post and he volleyed to the back of the net from 10 yards.
It got better for Casey five minutes later in another swift move from midfield a long ball was delivered into the box where Casey again stole a march on defenders and he volleyed to the net in sensational fashion from the verge of box.
They were almost in for a third in the 73rd minute when Joe Lynch latched on to a Niall Downey corner kick but he was denied by a great save by the Ballyheigue goalie Felix Jacob.
To their credit Ballyheigue kept battling away to try and pull a goal back but they never looked like scoring against a strong Asdee defence ably marshalled by Martin Collins and David Lynch and they ran out comfortable winners at the end.
Table toppers Castlegregory are almost out of reach in this division and are destined for the final and the race is on to see who win join them. On present standings it is between Asdee and The Park but it could go down to the final games of the league programme before the issue will be decided.
Asdee now lead The Park by two points but the Tralee side have a game in hand. The Park face difficulties in a few weeks as they will lose a number of their key players to the Kerry under 19 squad and that will weaken their squad.
However they still have a very talented side and will be hoping they can edge out Asdee before the season is over.
BALLYHEIGUE Athletic: Felim Jacob, Jimmy O’Halloran, Michael Hudson, Pa McElligott, Philip Martin, Sean Paterson, Padraig Behan, Danny Casey, Frankie Flaherty, Kieran O’Connor, Dan Kinsella Subs: Mark Dineen, Paudie Carroll, Sean Porter, Conor O’Sullivan, Mark Mulvihill ASDEE Rovers, Eoin Tydings, David Lynch, Martin Collins, Ian Mannix, John Horgan, Seamus O’Sullivan, Paudie O’Neill, Darragh Keane, Michael Fogarty, Alec Laurent, Gavin Casey Subs: Niall Downey, Joseph O’Brien, Shea Doran, Liam Mulvihill, Mark Culloty
REFEREE: Kevin Cunningham