Mark Dennehy treble fires Rathcoole Rovers to victory over Blackstone
The Rathcoole Rovers side that had a 6-0 victory over Blackstone Rovers in their League 2 clash at the Fairfield. Picture: Barry Peelo.
A HAT-TRICK from Man of the Match Mark Dennehy helped Rathcoole Rovers to a comprehensive victory over Blackstone Rovers in their League 2 clash at the Fairfield.
It was a battle of the basement here as both sides had to go all out for much-needed points and it was Rathcoole who came up trumps by proving to be the more clinical of the two sides which in the end, earned them all three points.
Rathcoole got off to a dream start and found themselves in front after just five minutes when from Mark Moynihan’s corner, Jack Hanover rose to head home the opener.
Rathcoole won another corner and from Moynihan’s delivery, Wrobel headed across goal for Mark Dennehy whose poked effort came off a defender before going narrowly out for a corner.
For the next ten minutes, the game ventured into a stalemate as both sides struggled for control until Aidan Downey saw his fizzing effort from a free kick flash narrowly passed the post.
A nice ball from Michael Twohig landed in space for Nathan Goulding, but an alert Jamie Carroll defended sufficiently enough to end the threat.
Rathcoole looked always threatening on the counter and were soon to go further in front when Jack Hanover found Mark Dennehy whose turn and strike ended in the back of the Blackstone net on 27.
Then, after Mark Moynihan’s corner was headed clear, it arrived for Downey who rifled narrowly over from 20.
Blackstone’s defence were caught napping when a break of the ball fell kindly for Jack Hanover who stole through to fire past Jack Scott to make it 3-0 on 33.
Rathcoole were on top now and after Mark Dennehy found the overlapping Declan Murray on the left with a sweeping pass, the full-back whipped a cross over that was just too high for the unmarked Darragh Murphy, but when it fell then for Pioter Wrobel, he picked out Aidan Downey who was unlucky to see his stinging effort clear the bar by just inches.
At the other end, Nathan Goulding won good possession before rifling over from an acute angle, but it was 4-0 to Rathcoole at the break when Mark Moynihan set Darragh Murphy up to fire beyond Jack Scott shortly before the interval.
With the second period just one minute in, Mark Dennehy produced a powerful run down the left flank before firing a cross over to the waiting Darrah Murphy who smacked the bar with a thumping effort before it was cleared to safety.
Mark Dennehy was certainly a thorn in the sides of the Blackstone defence and when he collected from Mark Moynihan’s free-kick, he slammed the side netting with an angled effort.
And when Jamie Carroll played in Jack Hanover, Jack Scott showed huge bravery when he advanced to smother the danger in the nick of time.
Blackstone’s woes were further compounded when failure to deal with Jack Hanover’s cross presented Mark Dennehy with an opportunity that saw him arrow crisply into the top corner on 64 minutes – 5-0 to Rathcoole now.
Minutes later; Hanover got two bites of the cherry but was foiled on both occasions with fine saves from Jack Scott.
Despite Rathcoole having the lion’s share, Blackstone’s Donnacha O’Sullivan made in-roads into Rathcoole’s defensive third before rifling a terrific effort that sailed agonisingly over.
But, when Rathcoole were awarded a free at the other end, Jack Scott did ever so well when he stretched to tip a cracking effort from Aidan Downey over.
But, with just seconds remaining, Mark Dennehy completed his hat-trick when he tapped home from a cross to end a competent victory for Rathcoole.
Jack Scott, Donnacha O’Sullivan, Jamie Babington, Michael Twohig, Kieran Doyle, Sean Daly, Nathan Goulding, Warren Forde, Gene Hendrix, Ken Kearney and Kevin O’Meara.
Ciaran McCarthy and Ryan McCarthy for Jamie Babington and Gene Hendrix (half-time), Johnny Harris for Michael Twohig (52), Lennon O’Mahony and Stephen O’Halloran for Ken Kearney and Kevin O’Meara (72).
Kieran O’Connor, Simon Murphy, Declan Murray, Jamie Carroll, Jimmy Herlihy, Aidan Downey, Jack Hanover, Pioter Wrobel, Mark Dennehy, Mark Moynihan and Darragh Murphy.
Adam Bushajaj for Pioter Wrobel (78).
Paul O’Sullivan.
App?
