Newcestown snatch victory from St Michael's in thrilling Division 1 league clash
St Michael's Rory Kavanagh outjumps Daragh McAree for the ball. Picture: David Creedon
A remarkable recovery in the closing five minutes helped Newcestown deny St Michael’s in a highly-entertaining McCarthy Insurance Division 1 Senior Football League clash at Mahon.
Michael’s looked in pole position with seven minutes remaining following a terrific David O’Sullivan goal but credit to Newcestown they refused to lie down and came storming back to snatch victory at the death.
The long-range kicking of Newcestown was evident in the opening exchanges as consecutive two-pointers from Eoin Collins and David Buckley gave them the perfect start. To be fair St Michael’s were battling hard with Rory O’Herlihy and Luke O’Herlihy kicked two classy white flags.
On the next possession, Michael’s produced a wonderful three-man move and when the ball dropped into the path of Kyle Leahy he placed it neatly to the corner of the net.
The problem for both sides were turning the ball over on a consistent basis and Newcestown corner forward Eddie Kenneally missed a clear-cut, goal opportunity midway through the half. As the half matured the influence of Michael’s centre-back Daniel Meaney became evident and he was on hand to kick his sides closing three points.
David Buckley had the final say of the half with a monstrous Newcestown point but his side went in at the break trailing 1-6 to 0-7.
Newcestown introduced Fionn Keane for the start of the second half but a long-range Buckley two-pointer had the sides on parity just two minutes into the action. Passing from both sides improved with Michael’s winning more possession from their kick-outs but with the game finely poised a mini melee stopped the flow.
The result was that both teams were reduced to 14 men as Billy Cain of Michael’s and Newcestown’s Jack Meade received straight red cards from referee Brian Coniry.
In fairness, both sides played decent football and when Michael’s carved open some sloppy Newcestown defending in the 52nd minute they looked to be heading to a crucial win.
After some good passing, a perfect assist to Liam O’Sullivan saw his shot giving the Newcestown keeper Chris White no chance of saving.
The home side still had a four-point lead with five minutes remaining but they were punished with a sucker-punch goal. The experience of Carthach Keane saw him play a wonderful pass to Darragh McGee who made no mistake finding the back of the net from close range.
Keane tied the game with a classy point in the final minute as Michael’s were now firmly on the ropes. It was left to the hard-working Buckley to kick the clinching point as Michael’s were punished at the death.
L O’Herlihy 0-5 (0-2 f), L O’Sullivan 1-1, K Leahy 1-0, D Meaney 0-3, R O’Shaughnessy 0-3, R Kavanagh 0-1.
D Buckley 0-7 (2 2 ptf), N Kelly 0-4, D McGee 1-0, E Collins 0-2 (tp), J Meade, E Kenneally, C Dineen, C Keane 0-1 each.
M O’Connell; M Drummond, A O’Callaghan, B Cain; R Kavanagh, D Meaney, T Grainger; E Hickey, R O’Shaughnessy; S Murphy, K Leahy, A Hennessy; L O’Sullivan, L O’Herlihy, D O’Sullivan.
S Ahern for D Meaney (inj h-t), D Cremin for S Murphy (50), SC O’Sullivan for D O’Sullivan (58).
C White; N Murray, J Kelleher, P Kelleher; C Dineen, M O’Sullivan, C O’Sullivan; D Buckley, E Collins; D McGee, T Twomey, J Meade; N Kelly, R O’Sullivan, E Kenneally.
F Keane for T Twomey (h-t), C Keane for E Kenneally (53).
Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).
App?
