AUL: Watergrasshill show their quality in comeback win over Rathcoole
The Watergrasshill United side that had a 2-1 victory over Rathcoole Rovers in their League 1 clash at the Fermoy FC all-weather facility. Picture: Barry Peelo.
WATERGRASSHILL came from behind before running out winners over Rathcoole Rovers in their League 1 clash at the Fermoy FC all-weather facility.
Rathcoole produced a huge work ethic to push the Hill all the way, but winning games is all about finishing and it was here that Watergrasshill United won the challenge in the end.
After a tentative start, Sean Desmond got away on the right before slamming straight at Gerry Cronin from a narrow angle.
The bounce then from a long kick-out caught the Watergrasshill defence and when it fell for Mark Dennehy, he could not make proper contact so, a chance went.
A decent chance fell for Mark Dennehy again when he got away on the left, but he failed to keep his shot on target.
At the other end, Sean Desmond managed to get a touch on Adam Murphy’s low cross, but not enough to trouble Gerry Cronin.
And when Adam Murphy collected from a throw ball, he turned to fire wide with his low effort.
Another good chance fell for the Hill when Dylan Roche whipped over a measured cross which arrived for Desmond, but the striker headed over while unattended.
A neat through ball then from Rathcoole’s Mark Dennehy almost found Leon Dooley, but Spriggs just got there in the nick of time.
But, when play sifted to the other end, it took a huge important block from Aidan Downy to deny Desmond getting a shot on target.
On 33 minutes, Rathcoole were rewarded for their endeavour when a lovely through ball from Brian O’Keeffe played in Anthony Dennehy who muscled his way through before slotting the opener past Spriggs.
Minutes later, a cracking effort from Dylan Roche forced Cronin to spill, but the danger was promptly cleared as Desmond and Adam Murphy threatened.
With five minutes to the break, Sean Desmond was upended inside the box by Shane Carroll and as a result, a penalty was awarded to Watergrasshill.
Sean Desmond entrusted himself to take the spot kick and planted it into the corner with aplomb to restore parity once again.
With just seconds to the break, a glorious chance fell for the Hill, but from Sean Desmond’s cross, Adam Murphy drilled over near the edge of the box.
Rathcoole’s Brian O’Keeffe got the second half off with a thumping effort which forced Spriggs into making a solid save.
Then, a lovely ball from Anthony Dennehy picked out Leon Dooley who lifted his effort over from a favourable position.
The game opened up a lot now and it was Paddy O’Regan who saw his dipping effort deceive Gerry Cronin before bouncing off the bar to safety.
And after Adam Murphy headed over from a corner at one end, Brian O’Keeffe dinked a ball into space for Mark Dennehy who was just pipped to the race for possession by the advancing Spriggs.
Then, when the ball broke inside the box for Jack Hanover, his effort to strike towards goal was blocked by a solid interception by Andrew Desmond.
Both sides were going toe to toe now in an effort to seek out a winner and the decisive moment did arrive around the 75th minute when Dylan Field set off towards goal and when his low firmly struck effort came back off the butt of the upright, Adam Murphy snatched on to the re-bound to hammer home his side’s second with aplomb.
The game continued to ebb and flow a bit, but what a chance fell for Rathcoole to claim a point when Jack Murphy found himself through on goal, but Aaron Spriggs produced a massive block to deny the overlapping defender.
Minutes later, referee Paul O’Sullivan brought the contest to a close.
Aaron Spriggs, Chris Healy, John Horgan, Cormac Murphy, Andrew Desmond, Ian O’Callaghan, Dylan McCarthy, Paddy O’Regan, Sean Desmond, Adam Murphy, Dylan McCarthy.
Dylan Field for Chris Healy (63), Dave Warren for Paddy O’Regan (77), James Gavin for Adam Murphy (80).
Gerry Cronin, Jack Murphy, Jamie Carroll, Jimmy Herlihy, Shane Carroll, Aidan Downey, Anthony Dennehy, Brian O’Keeffe, Mark Dennehy, Evan Murphy, Leon Dooley.
Jack Hanover for Leon Dooley (60), Darragh for Anthony Dennehy (76),
Paul O’Sullivan
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