Castleview grind out a tough win over a good Watergrasshill side in AUL Premier League
The Castleview side that had a 2-1 victory over Watergrasshill United in their Premier clash at O'Sullivan Park.
Both sides started with a very busy approach and it was Jamie Donovan who managed to get away on the left before cutting inside to force Aaron Spriggs to a near-post save with his legs.
And when Danny O’Donoghue helped on for Jamie Donovan, Steven McCarthy did enough to eventually sheppard the ball away from danger.
When play switched to the other end, the Hill came so close when Brendan Maloney hooked on for Calum O’Mahony who rifled his first-time effort inches wide.
A nice Castleview move ensued after that when Danny O’Donoghue worked a neat ball on for Jamie Donovan and as he worked it down the left channel, his final effort to try and reach the available Jamie Mason with a cross was foiled by a very important interception by Andrew Desmond.
Then, following a clearance from a corner, the ball came for Steven McCarthy who took a steadying touch before unleashing a stinging effort that whistled over.
Jamie Donovan’s run took him down the left channel before slipping it inside to Graham Carroll who miss-hit his effort from near the edge of the box.
It was nip and tuck now as the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other and when Conor Krol brought a point-blank save from McGrath, Jamie Donovan fed Wayne O’Leary who crossed for Danny O’Donoghue - O’Donoghue headed on then for Jamie Mason who sent his header over from a good position.
From a free kick, Stuart Murphy’s delivery had just too much on it for the in-rushing Jamie Mason.
What an effort then followed as Paul McGrath could only look on as Dylan Roche’s screaming free kick flashed inches past the upright.
With just seconds to the break, Steven McCarthy set Paddy O’Regan up to force Paul McGrath into making a low save.
With the second half just minutes in, Michael John Murphy’s clearance picked out Conor Krol who helped on to Adam Murphy and when Murphy played it inside to the available Steven McCarthy, he fired over from outside the box.
The game was screaming out for a goal as both sides worked tirelessly to try and unlock each other’s defences and when Jamie Donovan worked it on to Wayne O’Leary, the winger picked out Danny O’Donoghue, but he could not adjust his body enough to get a shot away with any kind of conviction before a half-chance fell for Adam Murphy at the other end, who drilled over from outside the box.
A chance then fell for the hosts when from a pin-point cross from Jamie Donovan, Jamie Mason headed over while unattended inside the box.
At the other end, Steven McCarthy collected from Paddy O’Regan before turning to strike a low effort wide.
Jamie Mason collected the ball in the wide area on the right before lifting his cross into the box - Jamie Donovan then used his strength to take control of the ball, but lost his balance when it came to getting a shot away as Cormac Murphy and Michael John Murphy closed in to do the tidy-up.
Minutes later, Jamie Mason cushioned a ball down inside the box for Jason Magee who scooped over with his effort.
After Mason headed wide from Stuart Morrissey’s cross, the View were reduced to ten men when Ciaran Dennehy was sent from the field of play, following a second yellow card in the 65th minute.
Then, the first goal of this competitive contest came in the 70th minute.
From Jamie Donovan’s corner, Stuart Murphy collected before firing low and hard into the box - it arrived for Corey Crowley who stroked home the opener and give the hosts the advantage.
Then, following a foul on Danny O’Donoghue inside the box, the View doubled their advantage when O’Donoghue fired home from the spot on 70.
The Hill clawed one back through a penalty from Steven McCarthy, but in the end, the View hung on.
Castleview: Paul McGrath, David Golden, Graham Carroll, Corey Crowley, Ciaran Dennehy, Jason Magee, Wayne O’Leary, Dan O’Donoghue, Stuart Murphy, Jamie Mason and Jamie Donovan.
Subs: Dylan McCarthy for Jason Magee (72).
Watergrasshill Utd: Aaron Spriggs, Dylan Roche, Andrew Desmond, Cormac Murphy, Michael John Murphy, Stephen McCarthy, Conor Kroll, Paddy O’Regan, Adam Murphy, Brendan Maloney and Calum O’Mahony.
Subs: Ciaran O’Riordan for Andrew Desmond (72), David Meehan for Conor Krol (85).
Referee: Paul O’Sullivan.
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