WEXFORD FOOTBALL LEAGUE Celebrate good times, Cloughbawn
SOCCER Division 2A title clinched
LONG-TIME leaders Cloughbawn clinched the Division 2A title on Sunday, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by a dogged Rosslare Port in Kilrane Community Pitch.
Having topped the table from pillar to within sight of the winning post, the visitors knew a victory would finally get them over the line, but as it turned out, with New Ross Town losing 2-1 to Duncannon they could have even afforded to lose and still claim the silverware.
The celebrations could have kicked off earlier though, as they came agonisingly close to grabbing the winning goal as the game ticked into injury time, but Port goalkeeper Brian Moore got a strong hand to Willie Murphy’s curling effort and tipped it around the post for a corner.
That was as close as Cloughbawn came to finding a winner in a frantic second-half, where they enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but came up against a Port rearguard that refused to buckle under the increasing pressure.
The league leaders looked like they were on their way to claiming the three points, getting their noses in front on 32 minutes, when Willie Murphy picked up possession on the halfway line, beat a couple of players and then confidently found the back of the net with aplomb.
However, the hosts were back on level terms within two minutes when Aaron ‘Harry’ Corish rose unchallenged to head home a Damian Breslin corner.
Rosslare Port had the first sight of goal after the change of ends, with Neil Howlin steering a Ramash Badhan cross on target, but Cloughbawn really cranked up the pressure thereafter.
The champions-elect forced a succession of corners and on 57 minutes David Doyle-Murphy headed Páidí Kehoe’s flag-kick over the bar under pressure from a well-organised Rosslare Port defence.
Martin Kehoe and Cillian Doyle both tried their luck from distance but the home back line continued to hold firm, and when Cloughbawn did find a way through, goalkeeper Brian Moore did well to block Páidí Cullen’s effort on goal after he had been found by Edwin Murphy.
Cloughbawn had a scare at the other end when substitute Mark Flood fired narrowly wide of the left post, but they were quickly back on the front foot.
Moore did brilliantly to save a deflected Willie Murphy free-kick, and when Edwin Murphy was put through by Dan Dempsey in the 85th minute the netminder was again equal to the shot.
Cloughbawn had one last chance to plunder the winning goal when Willie Murphy ran on to a slide-rule pass from Páidí Cullen but Moore again proved their nemesis with a smart save.
There was a subdued atmosphere as the final whistle sounded as Cloughbawn thought their wait to claim the title would go on, but the champagne didn’t have to remain on ice for too long.
Second-placed New Ross Town, whose game kicked off an hour later, lost 2-1 to Duncannon, so the Cloughbawn celebrations could begin in earnest. ROSSLARE PORT: Brian Moore, Dean Duggan, Damian Breslin, Arpil Cseri, Ramash Badhan, Aaron Corish, Lee Harpur, Steve Redmond, Neil Howlin, Liam Delaney, Mark Corish. Subs. - Kieran Kehoe for Redmond, Seán Byrne for Badhan, Mark Flood for Delaney, also Dara Bottomley. CLOUGHBAWN: Billy Dunne, Páidí Kehoe, Johnny Cullen, David Doyle-Murphy, Stephen Mahon, Edwin Murphy, Martin Kehoe, Cillian Doyle, Jason Dempsey, Willie Murphy, Páidí Cullen. Subs. - Dan Dempsey for J. Dempsey, Seán McCann for Doyle, also Jason Redmond, Kevin Murphy, Adrian Stachon. REFEREE: Derek Campion.