Carrigaline beat Riverstown in the Donal Linehan Cup to advance to the next round

Carrigaline United 2

Riverstown  1

Carrigaline United had a hard fought 2-1 victory over Riverstown in the Donal Linehan Cup on Friday night in Ballea Park.

Before kick off a wreath was placed in the centre of the pitch to remember the late great Willie Walsh whose first anniversary occurred on Friday. Both sides and the large attendance held a minute’s silence and a round of applause to celebrate and remember a true gentleman who is really missed by his family and a large circle of friends in Carrigaline.

The last time these sides met was back in October when Carrigaline cruised to a very convincing 8-0 victory but this time it was much more closer but again the home side came out on top.

Carrigaline advanced into the second round and they will be happy enough with their overall display. 

They looked very strong all over the pitch with James McSweeney and Kieran Kavanagh giving very little away at the back. 

The midfield partnership of Robert Walker and man of the match Andrew Kingston combined brilliantly and the front two of Cian Spillane and Darren O’Keffee caused the Riverstown defenders’ problems throughout the ninety minutes.

Riverstown are struggling for form this season but they put up a good battle but in truth they just didn’t create of goal scoring chances. 

They did however have some notable performances from Caolan O’Callaghan, Luke Fowler, Alex O’Driscoll and Luke Mylod who was their standout player.

Carrigaline had the first real chance in the fifth minute when Cian Spillane showed great pace on the left wing to get away from his marker and the talented winger delivered a superb ball into Nathan O’Keeffe but his goal bound shot was blocked by Riverstown defender Eoghan O’Sullivan.

In the 13th minute, Carrigaline broke the deadlock when Darren O’Keeffe scored an absolute rocket from twenty-five yards that flew into the top corner to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Three minutes later Carrigaline came close to doubling their lead when Cian Spillane’s free kick found Robert Walker unmarked at the near post but his volley crashed off the post.

In the 23rd minute Riverstown had a great chance to level matters when Luke Mylod threaded a great ball through to Caolan O’Callaghan who hit a powerful shot that flew inches wide of the target.

Just before the halftime whistle Carrigaline came close to adding to their lead when Andrew Kingston dinked a superb ball into Nathan O’Keeffe but the strikers shot flew just over the crossbar to leave Carrigaline with a slender 1-0 advantage at the break.

Riverstown dominated the early exchanges of the second half and in the 57th minute Luke Mylod delivered a ball into the box that was knocked down by Darragh Kelly to Kian Carroll who hit an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net to make it 1-1.

Two minutes later Riverstown should have taken the lead when Luke Fowler delivered a superb ball in from the right wing into Kian Carroll who was denied by a point blank save from Carrigaline keeper Eoin McDaid from six yards.

In the 73rd minute Riverstown midfielder Jamie Cronin got away from two Carrigaline defenders and slipped a great ball in behind the Carrigaline rearguard into the path of Luke Mylod but Carrigaline keeper Eoin McDaid was quick off his line to deny the Riverstown striker.

In the 89th minute Carrigaline were awarded a free kick and up stepped man of the match Andrew Kingston to hit an absolute beauty to the top corner from twenty yards to make it 2-1.

Riverstown pressed hard for the equalizer in the final few minutes but Carrigaline held on to record a hard fought 2-1 victory.

Carrigaline United: Eoin McDaid, Ciaran Crotty, Jack Mangan, Kieran Kavanagh, James McSweeney, Conor O’Farrell, Andrew Kingston, Robert Walker, Nathan O’Keeffe, Darren O’Keeffe, Cian Spillane.

Subs: Barry O’Regan, Gavin Murphy, Cian Mc Donnell, Matthew Kiernan, Daniel McSorley, Brian Dinan.

Riverstown Fc: Jack Marah, Emmet O’Sullivan, Luke Fowler, Evan Curtin, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Jamie Cronin, Luke Mylod, Alex O’Driscoll, Caolan O’Callagan, Gary Connolly, Kian Carroll.

Subs: Cian Browne, Fionn O’Sullivan, Darragh Kelly, Kevin Muamba, Rhys Barrett, Oisin Cole, Ben Buckley.

Referee: Harun Ozkan.