Kelly shines as St Peter’s ease through
ST. Peter’s advanced to the semi-final of the Wicklow Cup after a dominant display against a young and inexperienced Avonmore side in Fassaroe last Sunday morning.
A second half brace apiece from Tony Harris and Ross O’Brien added to James Verschoyle’s opener in the first period to put the finishing touches to a fine display from the Bray men.
St. Peter’s, flying high in the top flight, were expected to defeat Avonmore from a division below them, and with Jamie Kelly and Noely Stephens dominant in the middle of the park for the hosts, Avonmore’s challenge never got going.
With the groundwork laid, the first half felt like a game of backs against forwards. The first chance fell to the lively O’Brien who worked stopper Steven Wall in the Avonmore goal after Kelly had created the space.
Tony Harris was causing serious damage with his hold up play and was linked in with every opening the hosts made with crafty flicks, strength or else been on the end of moves.
Chances came and went and with 40 minutes gone it looked like been a frustrating day for the Bray side.
Kelly, Harris, O’Brien and the impressive winger James Verschoyle all had chances, but through poor finishing, excellent shot stopping and bravery from Wall, an excellent last ditch tackle by left back Sean Whelan, Avonmore were holding on.
Eventually the pressure paid off on 42 minutes. O’Brien won a free kick on the edge of the box after hassling the visitors’ defenders. Stephens delivered an exquisite ball into the area and Verschoyle glanced home for a deserved lead.
With the pressure off the Saints, they drove home their advantage after the break; although the killer second did arrive with controversy in the 58th minute.
Kelly’s through ball found O’Brien who appeared to be offside, however the Bray man did not get called back and he drove past the isolated Wall from 18 yards out.
That goal appeared to deflate the Rathdrum visitors and the third goal arrived soon after.
Harris and O’Brien combined in the dangerzone and it was Harris who calmly slotted a cool finish into the corner of Wall’s net.
With Daniel McCann coming on as a half-time sub, Avonmore had no respite and from a long McCann cross the fourth goal arrived.
It was picked up by fellow sub Sean Devlin who squared to O’Brien and the hitman picked his spot to extend the lead.
The cherry was put on the cake for Peter’s in the 77th minute when their most influential players combined superbly.
Devlin found O’Brien on the right of the Avonmore goal, the trickster deftly flicked onto Kelly who with a trademark step over created an opening for himself, however the captain unselfishly squared to Harris who placed home.
Eventually. in the 88th minute, Avonmore had their first effort on goal when Jacob Hamilton hit the target after smart play by Declan Breslin created the opening.
It was followed soon after with their second attempt a well placed shot from Darren Beevor that was tipped away magnificently by sub keeper Ryan Wogan.
A dominant display by St. Peter’s; the shots total of 26 to two reflecting their superiority.
Avonmore were brave against a clearly superior outfit. Their best performers were Wall in the goal and Sean Whelan in defence.
For Peter’s, they were outstanding all over the pitch, with Stephens, O’Brien, Verschoyle and Harris further forward all influential.
However, man of the match has to be captain Jamie Kelly.
A Wicklow Cup winner the last two years with Ashford, he would love to add to his haul with his home club.
With two more performances like this, both he and Peter’s will not be far off.
St. Peter’s: 1. Eoin Fox, 2. Carl Troy,
3. Ger Watters, 4. Mark O’Sullivan, 5. Dean Fletcher, 6. Noely Stephens,
7. James Verschoyle, 8. Jamie Kelly,
9. Tony Harris, 10. Dion McGovern,
11. Ross O’Brien. Subs: 12. Daniel McCann for McGovern (H/T),13. Sean Devlin for Verschoyle (60 mins), 14. Dean Troy for Carl Troy (65 mins), 15. Ryan Wogan for Fox (66 mins).
Avonmore: 1. Steven Wall, 2. Gavin Driver, 3. Sean Whelan, 4. Dan Sheahan, 5. Diarmuid Whelan, 6. Darren Beevor, 7. John Kavanagh, 8. Declan Breslin, 9. Jacob Hamilton, 10. Andrew Browne, 11. Kadir Arslan. Subs: 12. Sam Arslan for Sheahan
Referee: Stephen Farrell