Rathnew book place in final
The Village edge out Ashford in a seven-goal thriller
at Shamrock Park RATHNEW AFC U15 ASHFORD ROVERS 4 3
RATHNEW under-15s edged out a tense semi-final at Shamrock Park against Ashford Rovers on Sunday morning with a late goal to claim their place in the Jako Cup under-15 final.
The Rathnew AFC groundsmen worked tirelessly that morning to get the pitch in the right condition for the game as there had been heavy rainfall the night before, and credit to them as the pitch looked in great shape for the semi-final clash.
It was a slow start to the game from both sides as there were little chances created in front of goal in the opening ten minutes.
The wind played a major part in the first half as the away side used it to their advantage from set-pieces and kick-outs.
On the 15th minute Ashford keeper Fionn Doyle went long with his kick out and almost opened the scoring as the wind took the ball towards goal, thankfully for the home side Rathnew keeper Josh O’Connor was alert and palmed the ball over the bar.
Ashford took the lead two minutes later after a mistake from the Rathnew keeper left striker Fionnan Denver free to tap the ball into an empty net on the 17th minute.
Denver followed through with his run tracking down the ball, hoping O’Connor would take an extra touch, he then madetheRathnewkeeperpay for his mistake with a typical striker poaching goal.
Denver had the chance to double the lead two minutes later when he made a great run down the left wing before cutting in on his right foot and firing a curling shot towards goal, Denver was unlucky on this occasion as his shot clipped the crossbar.
Ashford took control after they took the lead and started to dominate possession and it wasn’t long before they had their second goal of the game.
A wonderful free-kick from defender Adam Kearns on the 27th minute gave the away side a two-goal cushion, Kearns strike was David Beckhamesque as his 30-yard strike rose above the Rathnew wall and nestled into the top corner giving the keeper no chance of keeping the strike out.
Rathnew struck back just on the stroke of half time with another poaching goal from Cillian McAllister who jumped at the chance to force the ball over the line after a mistake on the goal line from the Ashford defence.
Rathnew threatened for the remaining three minutes of the first half and looked like they may have grabbed an equaliser before half time but time was against them and needed a big performance in the second half to turn the game around.
Things didn’t go to plan for the home side in the opening minutes of the second half as the visitors snatched their third of the game.
Jake Cullen made a darting run down the right-hand side before squaring the ball across the penalty area picking out Luke Fitzpatrick who slotted the ball home on the 37th minute.
Rathnew kept fighting and refused to let their home support down.
Manager Olly Byrne gave instructions from the sideline to keep their heads and play their own way and the goals will come. The support from the sideline proved to be vital as striker Adam Byrne snatched a goal back in the 52nd minute after he got on the end of a ball into the box from Mc Allister.
Jack Gregory had the chance to level up the game after his side were awarded a penalty on the 54th minute after Scott Devlin was bundled over in the penalty area by the Ashford keeper. Ashford shot-stopper Fionn Doyle made up for his error as he kept out the penalty from Gregory to keep his side in front.
Ashford were trying to hang on to their lead and see out the game but the pressure from the home side was constant and the hosts found their equaliser on the 61st minute with another wonderful free-kick, this time from Ethan Power.
Power stepped up to the freekick which was at least 25 yards out and struck the ball with venom, his effort gave Doyle in goal no chance as it smashed the top of the net to bring the game back level.
Rathnew looked the more likely side to find a winner as Ashford looked like they had run out of steam after their excellent performance in the first half. The home side scored the winner just before the final whistle as striker Scott Devlin got in front of his man to poke home a cross from Ethan Power. The hosts celebrated as Ashford slumped to their knees as they knew that there wasn’t enough time for a comeback.
The referee blew his whistle and the entire Rathnew team and supporters erupted, an impressive comeback from the home side as they looked down and out early in the second half but managed to keep their heads high and continue playing their own game.
Ashford will feel unlucky that they are not heading into cup final after their performance, and if some decisions had have gone their way they may have been but it is Rathnew who progress to the Jako Cup Final.
1. Josh O’Connor, 2. Ryan O’ Neill, 3. Jack Moorehouse, 4. Ryan O’ Toole, 5. Ethan Power, 7. Zach O’Connor,
8. William Moorehouse, 9. Jack Gregory,
10. Ethan Snell, 11. Cillian McAllister, 12. Adam Byrne, 14. Scott Devlin, 15. Jack Haughton.
RATHNEW:
Fionn Doyle, 2. Josh Nicholls, 3. Adam Kearns, 4. David Butler, 5. Evan Byrne, 6. Broic Doyle, 7. Harry Broxon, 8. Jake Cullen, 9. Luke Fitzpatrick, 10. Fionnan Denver, 11. Ben Kelly, 12. Sean Birchfield, 13. Evan Glynn,
14. Karl Drummond, 15. Fionnan Denver,
16. Dylan Doyle
ASHFORD:1.