Carnew FC close in on Division 2 crown

CARNEW AFC took a vital step towards claiming the Pat O’Toole Division 2 title with a thrilling 6-3 victory away to St. Fergal’s AFC at Ballywaltrim on Wednesday.

This was a game that had it all; two penalties, flying challenges and a few guilt edged misses, and while six goals makes for horrific reading for St. Fergal’s, this was an immensely open game in which both sides could have scored double.

After a clash in kit colour we eventually got underway, St. Fergal’s stormed out of the dressing room sporting unfamiliar yellow jerseys and it was the home side who almost stormed into an early lead.

Adam Kelly had the ball in the back of the net after just four minutes, unfortunately for him, referee Andy Bishop had already tooted his whistle for offside.

Fergal’s fiery start sparked a reaction from Carnew, and James Behan’s finish put the away side one up after some fine link-up play from Adam Doyle and Brendan McCrea.

A powerful John Kavanagh header doubled Carnew’s advantage on the twenty-minute mark, and while the away side were two goals to the good at such an early stage, Fergal’s effort never wilted, and two minutes later, Nay Waters offered them a lifeline – this was a finely worked team goal with Keith Ward providing a pin-point assist before Waters smartly finished under an onrushing Sean Kinsella.

But, the home undone their own good work just minutes later when Brendan McCrea was needlessly taken down inside the box, up stepped James Behan who dispatched a cool spot-kick to claim his second, and Carnew’s third goal of the game.

St. Fergal’s should have been awarded a penalty of their own just before halftime. Keith Forde was dragged down inside the box with the goal at his mercy, but the referee waved play on.

From the resulting counter-at- tack Carnew were awarded a freekick which Will O’Neill chipped into the path of Adam Doyle, Doyle’s resulting effort bounced off the bar and fell nicely in front of P.J O’Keefe who headed home with ease.

The first-half ended minutes later, and while Carnew were undoubtedly the better side throughout the game, Fergal’s will have felt hard done by to have ended the half 4-1 down.

More of the same featured after the interval, some quality football was on display from both sides, and Fergal’s earned themselves a way back into the game when they were rewarded a penalty four minutes into the start of the second-period.

Barry Golden was fouled inside the box, and Luke Barry coolly stepped up to fire home a fine penalty which drew the home side back within two.

In fear of surrendering their two-goal cushion, Carnew upped their game ten-fold. Just five minutes after Golden’s penalty, Brendan McCrea had restored the away teams lead to three, with an excellent solo goal.

McCrea picked up the ball on the right-wing, he cut inside and evaded the challenge of three Fergal’s defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right corner, Fergal’s netminder David Doran was left with no chance.

Ten minutes later Doran was picking the ball out of his net for the sixth time, to his credit there was nothing he could do about this one, with all the space in the world Brendan McCrea collected the ball outside the box and stunningly side footed the ball into the bottom left corner – a sublime finish.

At 6-2, Carnew felt that the job was done, and they sat back allowing Fergal’s to keep possession. To their credit. the home team made a fair few opportunities and were rewarded when Dan Hill’s pin-point cross found the head of Adam Kelly who headed home from six yards out.

Despite both teams having a few chances in the closing ten, neither could capitalise and 6-3 was how it ended.

Due credit must be given to both teams for providing an immensely entertaining end-to-end game. Fergal’s put in a spirited display, and scoring three goals usually ensures a win, although not when the opposition are capable of scoring six. Carnew now march on in search of the League trophy, two more games remain for them, with another encounter against Wednesday’s opposition, and a clash with Greystones United pencilled in. On this games showing, the away side would be deserving champions.

St Fergal’s: 1. David Doran, 2. John O’Rourke, 3. Ste Kirwen, 4. Jamie Curran, 5. Danny Heffernan, 6. Luke Barry, 7. Adam Kelly, 8. Keith Forde,

9. Nay Waters, 10. Dan Hill, 11. Barry Golden. Subs: 12. David Gillich, 13. Stephen McGrath, 14. Simon Byrne.

Carnew AFC: 1. Sean Kinsella, 2. Glen O’Brien, 3. Johnathan Smith, 4. Justin House, 5. John Kavanagh, 6. James Behan, 7. PJ O’Keefe, 8. Will O’Neil, 9. Adam Doyle, 10. Brendan McCrea, 11. Brendan McCrea. Subs:

12. Mark Walsh, 13. Rob Young, 14. Nathan Keane, 15. Brendan Behan,

16. Stephen Murphy.