ROUND-UP MOYNE MARCH ON
SOCCER
THE extra touch of class told as Moyne Rangers booked their place in the Wexford Volkswagen Cup final by seeing off the spirited challenge of Curracloe in a sun-drenched Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday.
The underdogs had restricted the Premier Division title-challengers to few chances in the opening period, so it was a real sucker-punch for Curracloe when the classy Ryan Mahon fired in the opening goal on 42 minutes.
John Peare’s clinching goal for the Enniscorthy men, midway through the second period, came after Curracloe had enjoyed their best spell of the contest, which was a bitter pill to swallow for the seasiders.
Moyne threatened to break the deadlock on occasion in the opening half hour, with James Peare fizzing a first-time effort over the bar from 25 yards and John Peare steering Rory O’Connor’s rightwing cross straight at goalkeeper James Shiggins, but in the main Curracloe were comfortable at the back. However, the favourites managed to get their noses in front three minutes before the break when James Peare teed up Ryan Mahon on the edge of the area and he nonchalantly curled the ball into the corner of the net past an unsighted James Shiggins.
Curracloe came close to hitting back within minutes, but Tony Smith’s injury time free was tipped away by Pa Doyle in the Moyne goal.
The seasiders needed a strong start to the second period, and in fairness to them they had the bit between their teeth after the turnaround.
On 56 minutes Ryan Donnelly played a dangerous ball across goal after being found by Graham Staples, but goalkeeper Pa Doyle gathered at the second attempt.
Two minutes later substitute Stephen McGuire glanced a header into the path of the hard-working Tony Smith, but he fired a difficult chance straight at the goalkeeper. However, the wind was taken out of their sails on 68 minutes when the Peares combined, with James finding John on the left side of the area and the latter cut inside and drilled a low shot to to the net.
Substitute Tomás Mahon came close to adding a third, with James Peare again the provider, but goalkeeper Shiggins got a strong hand to his effort.
Curracloe continued to battle until the final whistle and were almost rewarded for their endeavour in the 92nd minute when Stephen McGuire grazed the crossbar from a tight angle. MOYNE RANGERS: Pa Doyle, Rory O’Connor, Diarmuid Cullen, Pa O’Shea, Richard Farrell, Ryan Mahon, John Peare, Conor Bruce, Peter Marsden, James Peare, Alan Tobin. Subs. - Tomás Mahon for Marsden (64), Seán Kenny for Bruce (68), Pa O’Rourke for Tobin (82), also Peter O’Rourke, Seán Burke. CURRACLOE UNITED: James Shiggins, Ryan Donnelly, Seán Keane, Brian O’Connor, Conor Cleary, Mark O’Connor, Larry Stout, Dan Campbell, Graham Staples, Adam Whitmore, Tony Smith. Subs. - Rioghan Crosbie for Stout (40), Stephen McGuire for Whitmore (52), Chris Cowman for Cleary (76), also Barry Redmond, Niall Cash, Kyle Roche. REFEREE: Darren Ennis.