Cian Ray double helps Hanover Harps register first official win
Hanover’s Cathal Coughlan and Bagenalstown’s Eoghan Dowling contest possession Photo:© Michael O'Rourke
Cian Ray's brace saw Hanover claim their first win of the new year, beating Bagenalstown who after New Oak’s defeat against Killeshin on Friday would have been hoping to close the gap at the top of the table. Hanover claimed their first win of the season beating Burrin before Christmas but a quick look at the table shows that the points don't add up. Hanover manager Paul Dowling admitted afterwards that they had fielded an ineligible player in the game with the result getting reversed. Three set piece goals in this game gave Hanover their first official win. Bagenalstown will feel disappointed to not walk out with any points having not been clinical enough and giving away set piece goals.
Town went closest early on through a Robbie Kane free from the left but he hit it wide on the near side before a long range effort was hit wide on the left. With 14 minutes gone, Danny Doyle went close but his effort was deflected wide. Kane’s corner from the left was cleared. Five minutes later, Kieran Nolan had an effort saved with the rebound being deflected wide. The resulting corner from the right was cleared. Midway through the half a Kane free from the left was cleared. A Cian Doyle free was hit into Ben McCarron. With 26 minutes gone, Hanover took the lead as a Eoghan Byrne corner from the right sailed into the far top corner. A minute later, Danny Doyle found himself in 1 on 1 but hit his effort straight at McCarron in the goal. On the half hour mark, Cian Doyle hit an effort from the left across the box. With a minute to go until half-time, Kane hit an effort from the left straight into McCarron. In stoppage time, Byrne hit an effort from the left across the box.
Straight after the break, a long throw-in from Kevin Power on the left found Conor Harte who hit his effort wide on the right. Two minutes into the half, Hanover doubled their lead as Cian Ray fired in a free from just outside the box. On the hour mark, Charlie Nolan hit an effort wide on the left. Three minutes later, a Byrne corner from the right was played short to Ray whose shot was deflected wide. A Nolan diving header midway through the half was hit wide on the right before a Cian Doyle free from the right was cleared. Byrne found himself in space with 18 minutes to go but Sean Treacy in the Bagenalstown goal bravely came out to clear the ball. Four minutes later, Cian Ray made it 3-0 from the penalty spot, hitting his effort to the left of Treacy. Tommy Bolger rescued a goal back for Bagenalstown with a minute to go as he headed in a Cian Doyle corner from the left.
Ben McCarron, Harry Lloyd, Kevin Power, Conor Harte, Cian Ray, Luke Murphy, Ryan FitzGerald, Cathal Coughlan, Kieran Nolan, Adam Nolan, Eoghan Byrne.
Brandon Cassidy, Shane Murphy, Graham Power, Niall Harvey, Seb Millere Khan, Liam Ryan, Leon FitzGerald.
Sean Treacy, Connor Lennon, Aedan Byrne, Andrew Kane, Padraig Hynes, Cian Doyle, Jack McCullagh, Eoghan Dowling, Danny Doyle, Robbie Kane, Charlie Nolan.
Neil Martin, Nathan Curran, Tommy Bolger, Roy O’Neill, Martin Bambrick, Jake Doyle, Brian O’Rourke.
Nathan Bannon
