Heartbreak for Rovers
THE senior men travelled to Blanchardstown to take on Castleknock Celtic in the semi-final of the Polikoff Cup last Friday night and as semi-finals go this one had it all - goals, near misses, great saves, red cards and lots more.
You just couldn’t take your eyes off the action. Rovers got off to the worst start possible and after two minutes they found themselves one down after a long ball over the top was duly dispatched by the home side.
Rovers showed great character and took the game to their hosts after falling behind.
After ten minutes, Ciaran McGettigan broke through the centre of the home defence but was denied by a good save from the keeper.
A minute later Gareth Murphy fired over. On 12 minutes, Shane Doyle raced off his line to save well on the edge of the Rovers area.
On 16 minutes, a good flowing move ended with Maurice Dunne rattling the crossbar from 25 yards.
The game was being played at a frantic pace and on the 20-minute mark Shane Doyle was called on again to tip the ball around the post.
After 23 minutes, Ciaran McGettigan was brought down in the box and Rovers were awarded a penalty. Mikey Delaney stepped up and coolly slotted home the spot kick.
The game was end to end and Shane Doyle came to his side’s rescue with another good save.
Just on the stroke of half-time, Rovers went close to taking the lead, Gareth Murphy picked out Ciaran McGettigan but his effort was just wide.
The half-time whistle went with the sides level at 1-1.
The second half saw the game played at a much more sedate pace, but we were still served with excitement and controversy.
Three minutes into the second period, a clash between Luke Byrne and Castleknock’s number 15 started a mini scuffle after Rovers were awarded a free.
A resulting off-the-ball incident ended with Tommy Kelly been shown a red card but he was immediately followed by the Castleknock number 15 for his involvement in the incident.
On 62 minutes, Doyle in the Rovers goal came to his team’s rescue with a magnificent save when a certain goal looked on the cards as he tipped the ball around the post.
From the resulting corner the home side went in front after they ghosted in at the back post to head home.
Rovers pushed forward seeking an equaliser and on 68 minutes they got the reward their efforts warranted.
Mark O’Sullivan made an excellent run down the right wing and his deep cross was swept to the back of the net by Gareth Murphy to level the game at 2-2.
The game petered out with both sides creating a couple of half chances but not really troubling the keepers.
The first period of extra time was only a minute old when Castleknock went 3-2 up with a carbon copy of their first goal with a long ball over the top which Shane Doyle had no chance with.
In the 97th minute Castleknock were awarded a penalty which was hotly disputed.
The Rovers defender made an excellent challenge to cleanly win the ball with the referee being the only person in the ground to deem it a foul, mind baffling to say the least.
Justice was done when the superb Shane Doyle dived low to his right to turn away a powerfully well taken spot kick.
Half-time in extra-time and it was the hosts who were 3-2 in front.
The second half of extra-time started with Castleknock playing possession football limiting Rovers to chasing for possession of the ball.
To Rovers credit they dug in and kept at their opponents, with three minutes of extra-time remaining Luke Byrne fired a wicked shot across the face of the goal which had the home netminder scrambling to reach.
With time running out Rovers levelled matters and it was no more than they deserved.
On the stroke of full-time Gareth Murphy cut in from the right to fire home to give Rovers a well deserved equaliser and it was on to the dreaded penalty shootout.
Unfortunately for Rovers, it wasn’t to be as they lost the penalty shootout 4-3.
It was a heart breaking end to a cracking game for the lads. Every player gave it their all in a tough fast paced game.
The lads will be disappointed losing out in the way that they did but they can hold their heads up and be proud of the effort and character they showed to come back on three occasions.
The lads definitely did not deserve to lose in the way that they did after such a tremendous effort.
It was a pity there had to be a loser but that’s the cruel side of football.
Every player gave it their all and done themselves and the club proud but when it comes to man of the match selection l don’t think anyone could argue with the choice of Shane Doyle in the Rovers goal.
It might sound as if Rovers were under extreme pressure when you select your keeper as man of the match but nothing could be further from the truth.
The reason for the selection was Shane Doyle made outstanding saves at crucial times in the game.
Take his three or four excellent saves in normal time, another world class save from a hotly disputed penalty in the first period of extra time and then a magnificent save in the penalty shootout.
Add to this his commanding presence in his area acting as a sweeper to mop up balls over the top shows Shane was deserving of his nomination.
Wicklow Rovers team: Shane Doyle, Mark O’Sullivan, Mikey Delaney, Ian Brannigan, Rikki Quinn, Tommy Kelly, Peter Finnegan, Luke Byrne, Maurice Dunne, Gareth Murphy, Ciaran McGettigan. SUBS: Lenny Carton for (Ian Brannigan 52 mins), Mark Johnson for (Maurice Dunne 67 mins), Mark Delaney for (Ciaran McGettigan 92 mins), Jim Foley, Alan Delaney, Greg Dunne, Daryl Sullivan, Rossa Marron.