Ringmahon Rangers A just one point away from MSL league success after big win over Ballinhassig
AS expected, the joint leaders in the Beamish Stout Junior Third Division, Ringmahon Rangers A and Castleview, won on Tuesday evening which left Ringmahon needing a point from their trip to Bandon on Thursday evening to clinch the title.
Two goals from Jake Murray and one from Kian Greene saw Castleview beat Riverstown A in their final league game, while Ringmahon won their penultimate league game 7-1 at home to Ballinhassig to leave them level on points with Castleview on Tuesday evening.
Four goals in last five minutes, after Ballinhassig were reduced to 10 men, didn’t flatter Ringmahon who missed several chances when it was 11 v 11 and they could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty in the first half.
Ringmahon had the better of the early exchanges as Aaron Collins, with a header, and shots from Timothy McCarthy, Ian Kenneally, and Paddy Cronin went close, the latter two denied by saves from Ballinhassig keeper Daniel Cronin.
Conor Hennessy then forced Cronin into a save and when the ball was recycled, the Ballinhassig keeper was on hand again to deny the Ringmahon striker.
The home side eventually broke the deadlock when, from Alan O’Flynn’s corner, Collins headed the ball home from close range.
A minute later Cronin fouled Ryan Keating as he tried to round the keeper in the box, but O’Flynn crashed the resulting penalty off the crossbar.
That disappointment was compounded when Ballinhassig pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half when John O’Callaghan hit a cracking shot beyond Ringmahon keeper John Jason Lynch.
Ballinhassig had a bit of a spell after that, but Ringmahon wrestled back control and the lead just before the hour mark when Kenneally released Keating on the left and he pulled the ball back for David O’Leary to score from close range.
Paddy Cronin hit the post for Ringmahon five minutes later, and when he was fouled in the box shortly afterwards, O’Leary took over penalty duties to make it 3-1.
Ballinhassig then lost Rian Foley to a second yellow card, prompting a period of complete domination for Ringmahon during which they squandered several chances.
With five minutes remaining though, the goals began to flow; Cronin raced on to a through ball to make it 4-1, a minute later substitute Jordan Synan Hayes scored, and Collins got his second before Jack O'Riordan completed the scoring in the final minute.
App?
