FANTASTIC FARRELL
Jason bags the winner to send Rathnew through
THE magic of the cup was alive and well when Carnew hosted Rathnew in the unfamiliar surroundings of Shillelagh last Sunday.
This game went right down to the wire with a last second winner coming from the head of Jason Farrell when it looked as though penalties were inevitable.
Despite the fact the game featured seven goals, it was by no means a thriller.
There were long periods where the game was lacking any real fluidity, partially owing to several breaks in play. Rathnew took an early lead after Alan Driver played Jordan Graham in on goal. Graham saw his first effort well saved by goalkeeper Adam Doyle.
The rebound fell to Graham’s feet once again and this time the front man saw his shot bounce off the far post. Jamie O’ Connor reacted first and managed to bundle the ball over the line despite the best efforts of two Carnew defenders.
It wasn’t long before Carnew found an equaliser with a wonderful, flowing move.
James Fitzgerald picked up the ball in a central position in his own half and drove forward before playing a pass to Maurice Kinsella. Kinsella slipped JJ McCrea in down the inside right channel before moving into the box to get on the end of McCrea’s low cross and send the ball flying into the net past Rathnew keeper Jem Hunter.
Incidentally, Hunter came prepared for the inclement weather conditions, sporting a hood for the duration of the game. James Jones springs to mind for all you NFL fans. Carnew didn’t maintain parity for long, conceding a penalty within a matter of minutes.
A long ball forward out of the Rathnew defence looked like it was going to be routinely cleared by Dan Nolan but the centre-half made a rare mistake and miscued his header.
Suddenly there was a race for the loose ball between Jordan Graham and goalkeeper Adam Doyle.
The attacker got there first and got a touch on the ball before being taken to ground by Doyle’s challenge, a blatant penalty.
Up stepped Edward Doyle and the midfielder made no mistake, sending the ball low and hard into the right corner and restoring his sides lead. The game had settled into a distinct pattern at this stage, Carnew enjoyed the lions share of possession and in the Rathnew half but the away side were defending well and releasing their front men on the break at every opportunity, a strategy which had already been reaping dividends.
Carnew’s pressure began to tell. In the closing stages of the first half, James Fitzgerald was brought to ground just outside the corner of the box.
From the free kick, JJ McCrea sent a low ball in which beat the crowd of players in the goalmouth as well as the keeper to bounce into the net to send the teams into the half-time break with two goals apiece.
The second half was scrappier than the first, and the weather began to take its toll on the pitch. Just as the pitch was being slowly worn down, so were the players. Nigel Darragh and Dale Austin were issued yellow cards for a late challenge and dissent respectively.
Rathnew were enjoying more time in the opposition half and took the lead from a corner with half an hour remaining. Edward Doyle, who has a real tin-opener of a left foot, swung in a dangerous corner which ended up in the back of the net after Alan Driver’s header was deflected past the goalkeeper.
Once again Carnew had to find a way to get back into the game, and the home side found their third equaliser of the game moments later, this time through a fine individual effort.
Graham Byrne got on the end of a long kick-out up field and surged forward with the ball down the right wing before coming inside and drilling a low shot into the net with his right foot.
The game became increasingly stretched after Byrne’s goal, with both sides pushing hard for that elusive winner.
Carnew were handed a golden opportunity to win the game when Mick Nolan took down Quentin House just inside the box as House chased a cross that had gone over the heads of attackers and defenders alike.
JJ McCrea took the penalty but he couldn’t keep his shot down the middle down and it flew over the crossbar. At the death Jason Farrell had the opportunity to win the game with a header at the back post but saw his effort go wide of the mark and the sides were left facing extra time and the possibility of a penalty shoot-out.
Extra-time was a dull affair. Both sides were visibly tired after ninety minutes of football on a heavy pitch. Rathnew appeared to be content to go to a shootout. Edward Doyle sent a long ball forward for a throw right in the corner as if he was Johnny Sexton playing for territory in Lansdowne Road.
With less than a minute remaining, Rathnew managed to turn over possession deep in the Carnew half and win a corner.
Edward Doyle swung in another superb cross and the stage was set for Farrell to head home the winner with mere seconds remaining.
Carnew (4-4-2): Adam Doyle, Robert Young, Ben Leckey, Dan Nolan, Daniel Hayes, James Fitzgerald, Quentin House, Dale Austin, Maurice Kinsella, JJ McCrea, Graham Byrne. Subs: Anthony Cogeley, Darragh Kelly, Mark Walsh, Stephen Murphy, Paul Murphy, William Osborne, John Walsh.
Rathnew (4-4-2): Jem Hunter, Mick Clarke, Ronan Woodcock, Glenn Fewings, Lee Kavanagh, Edward Doyle, Jordan Graham, Jamie O’Connor, Jason Farrell, Alan Driver, Nigel Darragh. Subs: Mick Nolan, Terry Maguire, Dylan Keogh, Shane Finnerty.
Referee: Jason Redmond