Village United two good for Grattan United in their AUL Premier League clash at Silverheights

Village United 2

Grattan United 0

Stephen O’Donnell and John Corcoran were in target as Village United came out on top 2-0 over Grattan United in their Premier clash at Silverheights on Saturday.

As per usual, the clashes between these two are always a close affair – this was no different in a what was a wet and windy Silverheights.

But, it was Village United, who got off to a dream start when from John Corcoran’s firmly struck free kick, the Grattan keeper spilled, which allowed Stephen O’Donnell pounce inside the box to slam home the opener on six minutes.

An immediate response from Grattan saw play shift to the other end as Kyle Higgins forced Shaun Dunlea to a low save.

Dunlea had hardly time to dust himself down when he had to get down smartly to deal with Anthony Harte’s effort, following good work from Christopher Bullman.

And when David Curtin’s free kick came back to him after being cleared, his strike from a second bite of the cherry, cannoned away to safety off Derek Morrissy.

Grattan turned defence into attack and when Christopher Bullman collected from Anthony Harte, he turned inside before rifling over.

Grattan were enjoying some pro-longed possession now as Bullman was denied by a near-post save from Shaun Dunlea before Anthony O’Callaghan looped his effort over, following tidy play from Bullman and Morgan Griffen.

And from Harte’s free kick, O’Callaghan just failed to get a touch with his head, while inside the box.

Stephen O’Donnell then picked out the supporting Derek Morrissy, who just failed to connect with a volley near the edge of the box.

Grattan threatened after that – Anthony Harte threaded a nice ball into space, but Shaun Dunlea won the 50-50 challenge over Kyle Higgins.

With just minutes to the interval, Anthony Byrne forced Dunlea to push out for a corner, following Anthony Harte’s free kick before Bullman scooped narrowly over soon after.

With the second period just minutes in, Grattan came so close towards grabbing an equaliser when from a corner, Anthony Byrne saw his thumping header crash off the woodwork before being cleared.

A nice Village move then developed after that – Pa Moony Long played it short for Derek Morrissy to feed Alan O’Regan, who turned and struck a decent effort that deflected off a defender before going out for a corner.

From the ensuing corner, Colin Hickey rose to head past the upright.

For a period after that, both sides battled hard to get the upper-hand in a game that was now turning into being a real tight affair until John Corcoran’s neat footwork helped him in towards the box before unleashing an effort that cannoned off Adam Lee Reynolds before going out for a corner.

And when the corner was cleared, the ball arrived for Anthony Keniry, who unleashed a cracking effort that forced Tommy Martin into making a magnificent save.

After being awarded a free kick, Village United’s Zac McCarthy floated in a free kick that saw Adam Lawlor rise highest to head narrowly wide.

Grattan were pushing forward now as they frantically searched for an equaliser and after Jamie O’Connor won good possession, he quickly turned and struck a decent effort which fizzed over.

Then, Christopher Bullman did well to find some space for himself, deep in the final third, but eventually squeezed narrowly wide inside the box.

But, as Grattan pressed hard, Village were accorded some space which they exploited as Colin Hickey played it neatly on for John Corcoran - the Village striker took a steadying touch before lifting a pass on to Adam Lawlor, whose effort to execute a volley outside the box, never came off.

Grattan’s endeavours to seek out an equaliser in the dying moments then took a turn for the worse as Village were awarded a penalty after Colin Hickey was fouled inside the box.

And from the spot, John Corcoran wrapped the points up in earnest when he drilled home nonchalantly – 2-0 to Village.

Village Utd: Shaun Dunlea, Sean O’Donovan, Derek Morrissy, Jake O’Keeffe, Anthony Kiniry, Patrick Mooney Long, Colin Hickey, Zac McCarthy, Stephen O’Donnell, John Corcoran and Alan O’Regan.

Subs: Adam Lawlor for Alan O’Regan (62), Mattie Stevens for Pa Mooney Long (65), Graham Cummins for Stephen O’Donnell (79), James Barry for Colin Hickey (88).

Grattan Utd: Tommy Martin, Michael Kent, David Curtin, Anthony Byrne, Adam Lee Reynolds, Anthony O’Callaghan, Anthony Harte, Thomas White, Cian Quinn, Christy Bullman and Kyle Higgins.

Subs: Dean O’Sullivan for Thomas White (35), Jamie O’Connor for Cian Quinn (61).

Referee: Paul O’Sullivan.