Caragh battle back twice to earn a point
Caragh Celtic twice battled back from falling behind against Monasterevin
Caragh Celtic FC and Monasterevin AFC played out an entertaining draw in a highly competitive Countrywide Forklift Training Division 1 encounter at Donore on Saturday evening.
In the end, both sides will be pleased with a share of the spoils but Caragh had to fight back twice after falling behind.
Monasterevin enjoyed the perfect start, breaking the deadlock after just 12 minutes of play when Kian Ryan Moynihan converted from the penalty spot.
The home side’s response to that setback was impressive and they fought their way back into the game before deservedly getting back on level terms through a Daniel Brady goal in the 37th minute.
They fell behind again before half time when Ryan Moynihan turned provider, setting up Sean Bennett with a sharp assist. Bennett made no mistake with the finish, sending the visitors into the interval with 2-1 lead.
The second half was a tightly contested affair, with Caragh Celtic pushing hard for a way back into the match while Monasterevin looked to defend their lead and strike on the counter.
The home side’s persistence finally paid off in the 78th minute.
Jake Dardis delivered a fine pass to Thomas Feane, who clinically finished clinical to level the score.
Neither side could find a dramatic late winner in the closing stages, and the referee’s final whistle brought an end to an absorbing contest.
Hotspurs were the latest visitors to face the league leaders in Micheál O Neill Park and shared the possession stats with the home team for the first 30 minutes of the game. Neither ‘keeper were really tested with the majority of the game being played in midfield.
Clonmullion took the lead late in the first half after Shane Foley put Keelan Lacey through, his effort was well saved by Sean Higgins but he could only parry it into the path of Bryan Byrne who made no mistake from close range.
Foley was the provider again five minutes later when he picked out the excellent Chris Chanders who rose highest to head powerfully downwards to put his side 2-0up. The visitors did threaten right on the stroke of half time when Tomas Hennessy slid a great ball through to Eoin McGrath but he rattled the crossbar from 20 yards out.
The second half started in much the same manner with both midfields dominating and with 25 minutes to go Jake Nicholl was fouled out on the right wing. Nathan Robinson whipped in a wicked free kick which Mark Hughes guided beautifully into the back of the net with his head to make it 3-0.
McGrath pulled a late goal back for Newbridge but it mattered little in the final reckoning and the Clonmullion winning machine rumbles on.
The breakthrough eventually came after on the half hour mark, after some confusion of who was awarded a throw in, Caragh threw the ball in behind the Old Fort defence where Jordan Martella took possession and his effort on goal was saved by Bland but it was parried into the path of Joe Coffey who made no mistake with the finish. Caragh did push for a second goal and just minutes late they thought they had their second goal only for Jordan Martella took possession be adjudged offside.
Old Fort stated the second half like a completely different team, the introduction of Ashby Bermeo seemed to have injected life into them after a very dull first half by their standards. It didn’t take long for things to be level, after some tidy footwork down the right hand side, Elson Vezo put in a pinpoint cross into the Caragh box and it was met by the head of Patryk Staniec who put his header into the top corner on the 50th minute, and that was the way it stayed although Old Fort almost won it late on when Bermeo struck the Caragh post in injury time.
Arlington AFC earned a hard-fought point away to Newbridge United after a determined performance despite playing the closing stages with ten men. Arlington made the perfect start and took the lead inside the opening minute. Sudaysi reacted quickest in the box to fire Arlington ahead and give the visitors an early boost. The game remained competitive throughout the first half, with Arlington well organised and working hard all over the pitch. However, Newbridge United found an equaliser in the 15th minute through Ryan Kearney.
Both sides battled hard in a physical contest, with chances limited as the game went on. Arlington defended strongly and continued to compete well against a good Newbridge side. The task became even more difficult late on when Arlington were reduced to ten men with around ten minutes remaining after Iain Higgins received a red card for a professional foul but they were able to hold on for a draw.
