An Tochar pip Clarke’s men
Late burst just not enough
ROUNDWOOD staved off a late rally by Kilbride/Lacken to hang onto victory in the Boom Platform Hire Junior A Football Championship on Sunday afternoon last.
The west side put it up to An Tochar in a good tight battle, and a fine penalty save in the first period by Peter Byrne seemed to be a defining point in the game along with a good spell in the closing moments of first half which kept Roundwood in control.
David Balfe got the west side up and running with a point inside the opening minute before Brendan Kennedy angled over a levelling point a minute later.
Timmy Broe put Sean Murphy through to add another point for the lakesiders to restore the lead before ambitious corner-back Noel Power pointed to finish off a good passage of play by Roundwood to restore parity once again in a bright opening quarter.
Again, Sean Murphy pointed to close out the first quarter leaving Kilbrid/Lacken 0-3 to 0-2 ahead.
Things got scrappy in the next period, with some bad turnovers and some poor shot selections from either side.
A mix up in the An Tochar fullback line wasn’t cleared and somehow Connor Dillon won possession and was clean through on goal and was fouled. Penalty was the call by the Donard official.
Up stepped Martin Donoghue whose shot was brilliantly saved by an fully stretched Peter Byrne in what turned out to be a pivotal point of the game in the wind up.
An Tochar broke up the field and Brendan Swords pointed a free after Conor Davis was fouled. David Balfe put a slick pass into Sean Murphy who fisted over another point to restore the lead once more for Lorcan Clarke’s side.
The game was turned on its head in the next three minutes with big Liam Kenna fisting over a point to level again, then a high ball into the danger zone was fisted to the net by Kenna as the west side faithful cried ‘square ball’.
The goal rightly stood as the full-forward was in the square after the ball was played.
Liam Gaffney finished off another great move with a point as Roundwood rallied.
Tom McKeon landed a monster of a point for Kilbride/Lacken on the stroke of half-time with the score reading 1-5 to 0-5 in a tight hard-hitting encounter.
Conor Davis knocked over a fine point after a trademark run to increase the lead on the restart. Liam Gaffney went off for a black card offence for the Roundwood side.
Some resolute defending by both sides dominated the next few exchanges before Brendan Kennedy put An Tochar five up with another point.
Lively corner-forward Graham Sutton stroked over another point for Roundwood to close out the third quarter with the score reading 1-8 to 0-5, no score in the second half for the west side yet.
Tom McKeon soloed up the field, slicing open the Roundwood defence, interlinking with Matt Cripps on three occassions before McKeon rattled the back of Peter Byrne’s net as the west side found a new lease of life. Graham Sutton split the posts to stem the tide.
Back came the lakesiders with two points to leave two between the side’s, but they could not get that elusive goal that was required. Brendan Swords and Brendan Kennedy each pointed to close out the game for a four-point win in the end.
Roundwood move on now to play Knockananna in the quarters while Kilbride/Lacken will meet neighbours and former St Bodens allies Valleymount in an all-west derby.
Scorers - An Tochar: Liam Kenna 1-1, Brendan Kennedy 0-3, Graham Sutton 0-2, Brendan Swords 0-3, Conor Davis 0-1, Noel Power 0-1, Liam Gaffney 0-1.
Kilbride/Lacken: Sean Murphy 0-4, Tom McKeon 1-1, David Balfe 0-2.
An Tochar: Peter Byrne; Noel Power, Jamie Salley, Colm O’Brien; Eamon Wolohan, Conor Short, Joe Gaffney; Stefan Collier, Conor Davis; Liam Gaffney, Brendan Swords, William Halligan; Graham Sutton, Liam Kenna, Brendan Kennedy. Subs: David Kavanagh, Eoghan Marah, John Kavanagh, Enda Kavanagh.
Kilbride/Lacken: Connor O’Toole; Larry O’Connor, Diarmuid Haughian, Paddy Nolan; Keith Mordaunt, Matt Cripps,Martin Donoghue; Finn Craul, Tom McKeon; Daniel Griffith, Timmy Broe, John Joe Nolan; David Balfe, Conor Dillon, Sean Murphy. Subs: Hugh Walshe, Mark O’Connell, Owen Keogh, Michael Byrne.