Glen’s goal paves way for victory
CTI BUSINESS SOLUTIONS IFC GROUP D
AN early goal from Glen Matthews proved decisive as Hunterstown Rovers got their Intermediate Championship campaign off to a winning start against St Fechins in Stabannon on Friday night.
The teams went into this Group D encounter without the services of their key attackers, Ryan Burns (suspended) and Ronan Holcroft (injured), and their absence was sorely felt in a game of 24 wides along with a series of missed chances.
Although it was Hunterstown who kicked 14 of those wides, it was the Fechins who will regret being particularly wasteful in the opening half that saw them enjoy the greater share of possession.
However, the game finally turned in Rovers favour when Bevan Duffy was given a Black Card on 47 minutes.
The sides were level at the time but it signalled the end of the Fechins challenge as they were outscored by four points to one in closing stages as Hunterstown secured victory.
The Termonfeckin men had two wides on the board along with a missed goal chance from Eoghan Duffy before Rovers first real attack saw Alan Landy set up Matthews for a well-taken goal.
It was the Fechins who continued to dominate the ball but despite some good movement from the middle, they just couldn’t find the target.
A further four efforts drifted the wrong side of the posts, while two efforts fell into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Niall Carrie.
Their lack of fortune was summed up on ten minutes when Brian Devlin was released after a good move only to see his effort crash off the crossbar and away to safety.
To make things even worse, Hunterstown increased their lead on 16 minutes through a Brendan Lennon free.
The Fechins finally got off the mark through Brian Devlin on 22 minutes and he added another just after an Eoghan Duffy effort. However, it was Rovers who had the final score of the half when Alan Landy took advantage of a poor kick out to put his side 1-2 to 0-3 ahead at the break.
The game was played at a good pace and witnessed some good defending by both sides but the second period produced only a slight improvement in terms of accuracy.
There was an early exchange of points between Alan Landy and Danny Burnell before Brendan Lennon tapped over to make it 1-4 to 0-4.
Landy then missed a goal chance before the Fechins got right back into it thanks to three unanswered points to level the game.
The teams were still tied at 1-5 to 0-8 when Brendan Lennon made a break for goal on 47 minutes only to be pulled down by Duffy who picked up a Black Card.
Paul Carrie pointed the free to restore his side’s lead and further scores from Glen Matthews and Paddy Mooney had them very much in command..
The belief had gone from St Fechins at that stage and they were unable to breach the tight Rovers defence.
Only one further score followed from Corrigan before Padraig Matthews kicked the last point in injury time.
HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Niall Carrie; Paul Taaffe, Brian Matthews, Martin Lennon; Patrick Taaffe, Paul Carrie 0-2, Richard Taaffe; Tony McKenna 0-1, David Finn; Paddy Mooney 0-1, Brendan Lennon 0-1, Ryan Ward; Alan Landy 0-3, Padraig Matthews 0-1, Glen Matthews 1-1. Subs: Robert McNeice for P Mooney.
ST FECHINS: Paul King; Niall Carolan, David Collier, Niall McCabe; Niall Devlin, Tom Burke, Ryan Sheridan; Bevan Duffy, Dermot McConnell; Colm O’Neill, Eoghan Duffy 0-1, Brian Devlin 0-3; Joe Corrigan 0-4, Jamie King, Danny Burnell 0-1. Subs: Harry McArdle for B Duffy BC, Derek Younger for N Carolan, Brendan Fanning for C O’Neill, Karl McDonnell for D Burnell.
REFEREE: Anthony Briscoe