Keane saves the day for Ashford
ENNISKERRY FC 1 ASHFORD ROVERS 1
ASHFORD ROVERS came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw away in Enniskerry on Saturday afternoon in the under-13 Premier Division, with Killian Keane scoring a goal six minutes from the final whistle to cancel out the hosts’ early goal.
Despite being the better side on the day, Rovers found themselves behind through a Hamish Whitelaw goal in the first half. Ashford would continue to plug away in search of an equaliser and would get their just rewards through Keane’s goal following neat play with Colin Ashley.
While they went into the game as the away outfit, Ashford spent much of the game on the offensive. With less than ten minutes having lapsed, Colin Ashley had a pair of shots saved by the Enniskerry goalkeeper.
Yet, in typical fashion, Ashford were made to rue their early missed chances, with Enniskerry breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute. A corner was cleared off the goal-line by the Ashford defence, only for Hamish Whitelaw to be on-hand to poke the ball home to make It 1-0.
Rovers now found themselves chasing a one-goal deficit. William Smith set-up Daniel Daly to dribble past a couple of defenders, only for his resulting strike to be blocked away heroically.
Irrespective of their first-half dominance, Ashford could have found themselves 2-0 down lateon in the half. A loose goal-kick was intercepted by Nathan Heatley, who held off a challenge to try for goal, only for his shot to drift narrowly wide.
The second-half would unfold in much the same way that the first did, with only one difference; Ashford were able to turn their possession and territorial superiority into a goal on the scoreboard.
The second period started with a couple of quickfire Ashford chances for Killian Keane, only for him to see both of those efforts saved. The chances continued to fall their way. Daniel Daly produced a lovely turn on the edge of the book to open up space. He proceeded to slip the ball through towards Colin Ashley, who slid in, in an attempt to get a shot off on goal, only for that flicked effort to go narrowly wide.
Ultimately, Ashford would get the equaliser that their work justified, with it coming with almost five minutes left on the clock. After working the ball up to the edge of the area, Killian Keane played a give-and-go with Colin Ashley, before blasting the ball past Liam Clarke, who – unlike with the previous chances – wasn’t able to stop it hitting the back of the net.
In the final exchanges, neither side could manufacture a clear-cut opening to seal a late win. In the end, Keane’s strike capped the affair, as both sides left Ballyman with a point. Enniskerry FC: Liam Clarke; Hamish Whitelaw, Odie Bolger,
Oran Allman, Seán McDonald, Adam Walsh, Luke Lynch, Frankie Cossington, Fionn Kavanagh, Nathan Heatley.
Ashford Rovers: Craig Armstrong; Josh O’Cleary Byrne,
Dani Salazar, Jason Ashley, Robin Brosksbank Peacy, Sean Manning, Colin Ashley, Daniel Daly, Killian Keane, William Smith, Owen Savage.
Referee: Willie Clarke.