SAGE PREMIER DIVISON
SUNDAY’S WELL FC 3 BRIDGE UTD 0
A BRILLIANT hat-trick from Stewart O’Neill secured the three points for Sunday’s Well away to Coill Dubh last Sunday morning.
It was a badly needed win for Well after a poor start to the season. Their position in the league table is misleading as they have at least three games in hand on any other team in the division and showed here that they have enough quality in their squad to move away from the foot of the table.
For Bridge, the defeat is a crushing one, especially as they had recorded such an important win over Town House Celtic last week and all they have to look forward to in the league for the rest of the season is a battle to stay off the bottom of the league table. Even the introduction of former Kildare County winger Paul Rigney into their squad couldn’t ignite any life into the Athy team.
O’Neill was the difference between the teams though and the Naas men went into the half-time break looking good after his brace had given them some breathing room.
O’Neill and his strike partner David Shore were too much for Bridge to handle on the day and really, with some better finishing, the winning margin could have been a lot bigger.
The second half started with Well still on top and O’Neill could have completed his hat-trick two minutes after the restart when he connected with Pierse Burke’s cross but Patrick Bateman got across to make a fine block.
Bridge’s best chance of getting back into the game was most likely to be from a set piece and Noel Mitchell was unlucky to see his 51st minute header blocked after Corey Moore’s corner.
They simply had no answer to O’Neill though and after Ross Leonard had kept him onside he collected Shore’s pass and raced towards goal but at the vital moment pulled his shot just wide of the upright.
Burke shot over shortly after as Well continued to press forward but Bridge were the next team to have the ball in the net when Paul Kelly converted after Niall Foley’s pass but the effort was ruled out for offside.
There was a brief bit comedy when Alistair Sheridan somehow failed to score from a yard out but it was back to serious business when O’Neill completed his hat-trick 22 minutes from time, a brilliant first touch after Shore’s pass took him away from Leonard and this time he made no mistake with the finish.
Corey Moore brought a fine late save from Mark Carpenter but there was never any doubt about the winners and Sunday’s Well held on to record a comfortable win.
SUNDAY’S WELL: Mark Carpenter, Rory Bateman, Stewart Sheridan, Greg Barrett, Liam Sullivan, Sean O’Connor (Barry Kane, ..), Greg Hallinan (Alistair Sheridan, ..), Will Collins, David Shore, Stewart O’Neill, Pierse Burke. BRIDGE UTD: John Paul Hickey, Niall Foley, Ross Leonard, Gary Keavney, Richie Maloney, Noel Mitchell, Sean O’Keefe (Shane Rigney, ..), Corey Moore, Ryan Leonard (Stephen Donovan, ..), Paul Rigney, Paul Kelly.
REFEREE: Martin Hickey.