CARNEW CLINCH IT
A deserved three points for the visitors in Aughrim
AUGHRIM RANGERS CARNEW AFC 1 2
AUGHRIM Rangers hosted Carnew FC in a thrilling Division 3 league encounter last Sunday morning.
Both teams had yet to play in the division this season and were looking to start their league campaign off on a high.
The first 15 minutes of the game was not pretty on the eye for the spectators as both sides resorted to hoofing the ball into their opponent’s penalty area when given any opportunity.
From the off it was easy to see that both Aughrim and Carnew were nervous going into the game and this led to both teams getting rid of the ball after they gained possession.
On the 20th minute, Aughrim midfielder Philip Byrne was stretchered off the pitch from what looked like a very painful injury.
The injury came from a tackle by his opponent Jonathan Smith but Smith used his shoulder well and won the ball in a fair challenge, it seemed to be how the midfielder fell that caused the injury.
Although it was unclear to see from the sideline what kind of injury Byrne had it looked to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament from the way the player landed after the challenge.
Play was stopped by referee Owen White for 10 to 15 minutes after Byrne’s injury happened and as play resumed Carnew quickly took the lead.
Jonathan Smith was proving to be a problem for the Aughrim defence, the striker had used his pace to get in behind the Aughrim defence multiple times in the first half.
Smith was making one of his darting runs before he was taken down on the outside of the box, resulting in a free-kick in a great position for the away side.
Eugene Jordan stepped up to take the free-kick and curled the ball into the top right corner to make it 1-0 on the 25th minute, a great strike from the Carnew defender.
Aughrim found it increasingly difficult to get themselves back into the game after going a goal behind.
Another injury to David O’Hare meant that Aughrim had used two out of their three substitutes in the first half and were without two important players for the remainder of the game.
The first half ended 1-0 to the travelling side with a lot to do in the second half for the hosts to get back into the game despite it being just one goal between the sides.
Carnew did not let up in the second half as Aughrim found themselves camped in their own half for the majority of the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Jonathan Smith was again making great solo runs down that right hand side and almost got his first of the game on the 60th minute but his header at the back post from a corner went narrowly wide.
Aughrim had a great opportunity on the 82nd minute when they were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the box but Michael Healy’s strike was too tame and was gathered by Carnew keeper Paddy Adair.
Carnew substitute Glynne Butler tucked away his side’s second goal of the game in the 85th minute after some great combined play with his fellow striker Jonathan Smith.
Smith was involved in everything going forward for Carnew in the second half, the Carnew man went on an impressive solo run down the left wing beating two Aughrim defenders before unselfishly squaring the ball to Butler who couldn’t miss.
Aughrim managed to grab a goal back late into injury time with a well struck free-kick from James Byrne but with only two minutes left on the clock there wasn’t enough time to get an equaliser as Aughrim suffered their first defeat of the season.
Carnew deserved all three points on the day but will be without Eugene Jordan in their next league fixture as the Carnew defender was sent off late in the game for dissent to referee Owen White.