Stoat and Shea goals earn Springfield a 2-1 victory over defending champions Coachford in their Premier AUL clash
The Springfield FC side that had a 2-1 victory over Coachford in their Premier clash at Pat O'Brien Park.
GOALS from James Stoat and Jack O’Shea earned Springfield a 2-1 victory over defending champions Coachford in their Premier clash at Pat O’Brien Park.
It was a close enough affair, but in James Stoat and Jack Murphy who were always probing in the final third, Springfield had that extra cutting edge to win the game in the end.
After a busy start, it took a sharp tackle from Coachford’s Galvin Kearney to deny Jack O’Shea a path through on goal
An effort then from Britton to find O’Shea with a chipped pass was quickly aborted by the prompt intervention of Stephen Murray.
Springers were making the early impression now and it took a fine save from Stephen Murray to keep a stinging effort from Stoat out.
But, Coachford started to work their way into the contest and when Michael O’Sullivan saw his thumping effort sail narrowly over, Mark Murphy then headed over while unattended from Michael O’Sullivan’s delivery from a corner.
Minutes later; Aaron Murphy did well to save a terrific low effort with his feet from Michael O’Sullivan.
Springfield turned defence into attack and came close when the Impressive Jack O’Shea exchanged passes with Cormac Downing before drilling narrowly wide after good work from James Stoat.
Stoat and Downing combined well before the ball broke for O’Shea who fired low at goal – only to see Murray gather competently in the end.
Jack O’Shea then broke on the left, but after making an effort to gain space by turning inside, Galvin Kearney produced a top-drawer tackle to deny him a goal-scoring opportunity.
With just seconds to the break, the woodwork came to Coachford’s rescue when Stoat’s delivery from a corner cannoned off the far post before being cleared to safety.
With just minutes into the second period, what a chance fell for Coachford.
Michael O’Sullivan found Jack Harrington with a measured pass and after unleashing what looked like an unstoppable effort, Aaron Murphy somehow got a hand to it to steer out for a corner – a great strike and an equally terrific save.
Then, following a throw ball, a half chance for Coachford’s Michael O’Regan fell for him, but he steered wide of the far post.
And when Michael O’Sullivan stole some yards before cutting inside, he clipped his effort over from 25 yards out.
But, when nice build up play from Springfield developed with some good work thrown in for good measure by man of the match Jack O’Shea, Springfield broke the ice when a terrific effort from James Stoat flew into the bottom corner on the hour.
Springers had another chance after that when a threaded effort through by Kevin Wilmott came for Downing, but he fired wide of the target.
Soon after, Coachford’s Mark Murphy threw his body on the line to block a goal-bound effort from Stoat.
A corner for Springfield followed and it was Stoat who sent his forceful header straight at Murray.
It was all square again though when following a corner for Coachford, Springfield’s inability to clear their lines gave Michael O’Regan the opportunity to drill home his side’s equaliser on 79 minutes.
A chance for Coachford came about after that when Patrick Moodey fed Mark O’Connell in a good position, but he dwelled too much on the ball and a possible opportunity went.
With just about eight minutes left now on the clock, both sides were aware of the effort needed to be put in if all three points were to be bagged here and it was Springfield who took advantage of some tired defending at the back for Coachford which in the end, gave the impressive Jack O’Shea the chance to rattle the net from an acute angle and secure all three points for Springers in the end.
Springfield: Aaron Murphy, Dean Keating, Gary Colins, Sean Wright, Cormac Downing, Stephen Bruton, Kevin Wilmott, James Stoat, Jamie Britton and Jack O’Shea.
Subs: Sean O’Reilly for Stephen Bruton (70), Jonah Walsh for Sean Wright (73).
Coachford: Stephen Murray, Pat Walsh, Brendan Harrington, Galvin Kearney, Mark Murphy, Michael O’Regan, Ardghal O’Buachalla, Mark O’Connell, Michael O’Sullivan, Jack Harrington and Neil Moynihan.
Subs: Daniel Herlihy and Patrick Moody for Neil Moynihan and Michael O’Sullivan (66).
Ref: Paul O’Sullivan
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