Bagenalstown maintain 100% record at halfway point
Bagenalstown took one step closer to becoming Division One champions with a big win over former champions Crettyard on Saturday evening. The win meant that they are currently the only team in Division One to hold a 100% record after the first round of games and are six points clear of New Oak in second.
Should they overcome the defending champions, Hanover, in the Plots on Friday night, it’s going to be hard to see The Town losing it having overcome potentially the two toughest away trips in the league. However, as Assistant Manager Trevor Nolan pointed out after the match, it’s important for them to not get complacent; injuries could still play a part and if they start losing a couple of games, things could get tight; should teams withdraw from the league, and points start getting returned to teams who lost against them, suddenly they can find themselves in a bit of trouble, something they know from the last two seasons, having been screwed out of two league titles in two seasons.
Bagenalstown were full value for the win. They probably didn’t play to the best of their ability but they did enough to get through. Their set pieces caused problems for Crettyard and whilst maybe a little wasteful in attack, they took their chances for the most part. Defensively at times in the first half, they didn’t look at their best, Lee Salter a constant threat up front. But for the most part they dealt with everything that came their way. Crettyard were missing quite a few players and manager Niall Purcell admitted afterwards that they aren’t training. It showed too, they struggled defensively and couldn’t find a whole lot of momentum.
Bagenalstown had the best of the early chances but struggled to convert them. The best of the early chances came from a Brian O’Rourke just outside the box which teed up John Doyle coming in down the left but his diving header was saved. Martin Bambrick found himself through one-on-one with Dinny Byrne in the Crettyard goal but blasted his shot high and wide.
Cristoir Maher went close for Crettyard as he fired in a free from the edge of the box but saw his effort saved. O’Rourke had a couple of close shaves as the halfway point of the half crept up, being denied first by the ‘keeper then by the post.
He finally made amends though when he gave Bagenalstown the lead after 22 minutes as he buried a shot into the back of the net having been played through by Alfie Corcoran.
They had no time to rest on their laurels though as Crettyard levelled less than a minute later. Cristoir Maher fed the ball through to Lee Salter, in a move that has been seen many times across the last 20 years, who weaved in and out of the Bagenalstown defence, dancing around defenders and rounded the ‘keeper to bury the ball in the back of the net.
Salter played in Neil Murtagh to the left of the goal but he couldn’t control the ball.
With four minutes to go until half-time, Bagenalstown retook the lead. A Mikey Whelan corner from the left was met by John Doyle who turned it home.
Lee Salter almost levelled things on a couple of occasions but was denied by a couple of good saves from the Bagenalstown ‘keeper. Niall Purcell had a great chance to level from the right too but also saw his effort saved. A Bambrick corner from the right saw Trevor Nolan head off the post at the back post.
On the hour mark, it was game over with a third Bagenalstown goal. Poor defending from a Bambrick corner saw an effort cleared off the line before David Miley’s effort was saved with the rebound falling to Corcoran who made no mistake in rifling the ball home and they continue to set the pace at the top of the table.
Derek Tebay, James Geoghegan, Martin Cummins, Blain Dwyer, David Miley, Mikey Whelan, Murt Bambrick, John Dowling, John Doyle, Brian O’Rourke, Alan Corcoran.
Keith McDonald, Derek Mara, Trevor Nolan, Tommy Kinsella, Tommy Cummins, Pa Deane.
Dinny Byrne, Mark Smyth, Shane Renwick, Sean Kinahan, Seamus Dowling, Neil Murtagh, Patrick McConigley, Cristoir Maher, Lee Salter, Niall Purcell, Trevor Mackey.
Connor Kelly, Podge McGrath, James Sherwood.
Shane Farrell.
