AUL: Leon Doody fires Rathcoole Rovers to victory over Boher Celtic in eight-goal thriller

Rathcoole Rovers 5 Boher Celtic 3

Leon Doody scored twice as Rathcoole Rovers came out on top in their League 1 clash against Boher Celtic at the Banteer Astro facility on Sunday.

It was Rathcoole’s first league victory of the season, but the game itself could have gone either way as it ebbed and flowed so much very frequently, with plenty of chances being created.

But, what a start Rathcoole got – a terrific ball from Ultan Cottey played Keivi Gkogka into space and as Darren Kiely advanced, Gkogka slipped it past him to break the ice as early as two minutes.

A response from Boher saw Jamie McAuliffe slip it through for Michael Okere to drill straight at Healy.

Rathcoole doubled their advantage on 14 minutes when Darren Kiely was caught in possession by Leon Doody, who set off towards goal to tap home to an empty net.

Boher nearly reduced the arrears soon after when Shane McCarthy hooked over the out-of-position Rathcormac keeper, but Andy Sheehan came to the rescue when he scooped off the line in the nick of time.

But, hesitancy between Niall Murray and his goalkeeper presented Jamie McAuliffe with an opportunity when he stole possession before guiding into an empty net on 20.

Boher threatened again when Eoin McAuliffe found Michael Okere with a neat pass, but Patrick Kiely managed to make contact with the ball to stab out for a corner.

From the corner, Michael Okere rose unattended to head narrowly over.

Defensive frailties cost Rathcoole soon after when Michael Okere won cheap possession before finding the target with a clinical finish in the 24th minute to restore parity once again.

And after Shane McCarthy fired narrowly over from a free kick, Mark O’Connor played Brian Murphy into space, but Eoin McAuliffe read the danger, enough to produce a timely intervention near goal.

What a chance then fell for Rathcoole before the break when Keivi Gkogka found a way through, but his final effort on goal went past the upright.

In the opening minutes of the second period, Boher threatened when Jamie McAuliffe played in Shane McCarthy, but he was denied by a fine save from John Healy.

But, following terrific work from Michael Okele on the left, Boher went in front when Okele’s cross found Kevin O’Donoghue to rifle home from inside the box on 52 minutes to make it now 3-2 to Boher.

Boher threatened again and it took a superb save from Healy to stop Jamie McAuliffe’s crisply struck effort nestling in the net.

At the other end, Darren Kiely was brought into action when he had to stretch to keep out a fizzing effort from a free kick by Leon Doody.

For a large period after that, the game went flat as both sides fell off the early lively pace until Ultan Cottey saw his effort from a free kick deceive everyone in the box as it found its way, deep into the Boher net to restore parity once again at 3-3.

Then, after Mark O’Connor scooped an effort over at one end, Michael O’Riordan tested Healy with a forceful effort from distance that went straight at the Rathcoole keeper.

Rathcoole Rovers seemed to have the bit between their teeth more so than Boher as the final five minutes started to draw near and when Keivi Gkogka saw his cracking free kick saved by Darren Kiely at the second time of asking, we were then introduced to a sensational ending to the game after that.

In the 90th minute as Rathcoole applied the pressure, Leon Doody out-muscled his marker before setting off towards goal to slam home his second and his side’s fourth.

Then, in the dying seconds, Mark O’Connor crossed into the box for the waiting Andy Sheehan to slam home – 5-3 to Rathcoole.

RATHCOOLE ROVERS: John Healy, Patrick Kiely, Andy Sheehan, Kevin Riordan, Ultan Cottey, Niall Murray, Mark O’Connor, Oisin Cottey, Brian Murphy, Leon Doody, Keivi Gkogka.

Subs: Kevin Buckley for Brian Murphy (57), Prince Metsatlo for Patrick Kiely (68).

BOHER: Darren Kiely, Jessie McNamara, Eoin McAuliffe, Darran Griffin, Michael O’Riordan, Michael Okere, Shane McCarthy, Conor O’Riordan, Jamie McAuliffe, Jack McNamara, Kevin O’Donoghue.

Referee: Ken O’Driscoll.