BLESSINGTON BEAT VILLAGE

Superb Jack saves the day

BLESSINGTON RATHNEW 3-9 2-8

A great display of goalkeeping by Jack Sargent between the Blessington posts proved to be the difference between victory and defeat when the Lakesiders played against Rathnew in the Under-15 Football League in Rathnew on Thursday last.

Although beaten by two penalty kicks taken by the powerful Eoin Doyle, Sargent rescued his side with great saves on a number of occasions. The game was played on Rathnew’s second pitch which was far more sheltered from the elements than the main pitch and its tight dimensions proved very suitable for the under-15 age group.

For a long time in this game it appeared that Blessington would run out comfortable winners.

Rathnew midfielder Ross Quinn put Rathnew into the lead for the only time in the game when he pointed in the second minute but when Blessington responded with goals from Thomas Fisher and Cillian O’Connell within a minute of each other, things were looking ominous for the home side.

Centre back Luke O’Brien and midfielders Daniel Cooney and Thomas Fisher were driving their side forward and were managing the two solo/ bounce touches well.

Centre forward Daniel Silke Fetherson pointed on six minutes to put his side six points up at this stage. Eoin Doyle scored a great point from a 45 to keep Rathnew in touch.

Doyle had a powerful kick from placed balls and added a point from another 45 in the second half. Dan Cooney and Thomas fisher added two points within a minute of each other in the thirteenth and fourteenth minute.

Toby Curran scored Rathnew’s third point on the quarter hour mark. Although Blessington were dominant in the second quarter their only scores came from Daniel Keogh and Sam Gough leaving them ahead by 2-5 to 0-3 as halftime approached. Then disaster struck for Blessington when a defender was adjudged to be guilty of a foot block in the small square. Eoin Doyle blasted home the penalty to leave the visitors ahead by 2-5 to 1-3.

Blessington got off to a great start in the second half when substitute Dean Nealon had the ball in the net in the first minute. Tom Fisher had two further points on the board by seven minutes. A pointed free from Eoin Doyle was Rathnew’s only response at this stage and Lucas Sarkakasaus balanced it out with another point for Blessington.

Ross Quinn came back with a point for the home side. When Daniel Silke Fetherson pointed again after sixteen minutes it turned out to be his sides last score of the game. A number of Blessington substitutions appeared to upset the balance of their team and Rathnew came much more into the game. It was from here on that Jack Sargent proved his worth, but he could do little about another Eoin Doyle penalty goal buried in the net on 22 minutes.

Toby Curran followed with a point and when Eoin pointed his second 45 with four minutes left Rathnew were coming strongly. However, Sargent in the goal denied them the goal they needed, and their final score was another point from Toby Curran as the game entered time added on. There was an unnecessary stoppage at the end when the referee had to sort a difference between players. It was a pity that a fine game played in a good sporting manner should end on a sour note.

Final score was 3-9 to 2-8 in favour of Blessington.

Scorers – Blessington: Thomas Fisher 1-3, Cillian O’Donnell 1-0, Dean Nealon 1-0, Daniel Silke Fetherson 0-2, Dan Cooney, David Keogh, Sam Gough, Lucas Sarkakasaus 0-1 each. Rathnew: Eoin Doyle 2-3, Toby Curran 0-3, Ross Quinn 0-2.

Jack Sargent; Rory Cullen, Niall Gallagher, Austin Breen; Cillian Bailey, Luke O’Brien, Liam Phibbs; Daniel Cooney, Tom Fisher; Lucas Sarkakasaus. Daniel Silke Fetherson, Cillian O’Connell; Robbie Richardson, Sam Gough, Dan Keogh. Subs. Dean Nealon, Tommy Daly, Mark Keogh, Max Silke Fetherson.

Christopher Doyle; Jake Brady, Jamie Coleman Kelly, Thang Tram Quoc; Ryan O’Toole, Killian Clarke, Ewan Culbert; Reece Doyle, Ross Quinn; Toby Curran, Eoin Doyle, J.J. O’Neill; Joshua O’Connor, Charlie Cruise, Zach O’Connor.

John Keenan (Aughrim). ST. NICHOLAS looked to have wrapped up an impressive victory in Enniskerry last Thursday evening until this tie was called to a premature halt with six minutes left on the clock.

Clann na Gaels had rattled over four points in a row to leave the gap at six points but a penalty for St Nicholas evoked an angry reaction from the Gaels manager.

He felt St. Nicholas were guilty of over-carrying in the build-up to the penalty and he shared his viewpoint with referee Stephen McNulty.

McNulty warned him that he was taking a note of everything being said, the penalty was dispatched and the manager again aired his grievance (without swearing on both occasions).

McNulty then approached the manager and requested his name in order to send him off. The manager refused to share his name, McNulty warned he had three minutes to do so or he would abandon the match but when a spectator from the home sideline chimed in, McNulty attempted to send him off too before deciding to blow the final whistle.

McNulty was poised and ready for throw-in 10 minutes before the scheduled 8pm start time and his patience wore thin with the Gaels as he warned them at 20:02 – who were in a huddle at the time - that he was beginning the match in 30 seconds and he therefore hoped that they would be in their positions.

It was a lively start from the Gaels as Laura O’Toole registered the first point after 20 seconds and impressive centre-half back Shauna Kearns claimed two loose balls and drove forward but failed