Hanover handed lifeline in Premier relegation race
Parkville’s Roland Sanni and Hanover’s Cathal Coughlan. Photos: Michael O'Rourke.
Hanover Harps gave themselves a lifeline in the race to stay in the Nationalist Premier Division on Sunday morning. They won just their third game this season to maintain hopes of staying in the top division of Carlow Soccer.
Hanover still sit bottom of the table, a point behind St. Fiacc’s, who have a game less played, and three points behind Parkville, who have a game extra played. After the sucker punch of St. Fiacc’s scoring a 94th minute equaliser against them last week, this was a much needed result for Hanover who knew defeat would all but relegate them.
As it stands at the moment, if Hanover were to get six points from their final two games, they would force a play-off with Parkville at the very least, should Parkville win their final game against Bagenalstown. If Parkville were to lose, then three points would be enough for Hanover to force a play-off with the Tullow side, while four points would be enough to keep them safe.
If St. Fiacc’s were to pick up no more points from their three games, then a point would be enough for Hanover to force a play-off with them, whilst three would see them safe. However, with Baltinglass beating Slaney and currently looking like they may win Division 1, there could be a reprieve for whoever finishes last as Baltinglass’ facilities currently do not meet the standards needed to play Premier football. So there are still a number of unknowns when it comes to relegation from and promotion to the Premier Division next season, and it will be a long summer for whoever finishes bottom of the league.
It was a scrappy game in difficult conditions and both teams needed to battle hard. It was a red card in the first half that changed the game, and gave Hanover the impetus to push on. However, the introduction of Eoin Carolan from the bench late on for Parkville proved crucial for them as he was a handful of defenders and caused all sorts of problems for the Hanover defence late on but couldn’t quite get them over the line.
Hanover asked all the early questions; with ten minutes on the clock, Cian Ray’s effort was palmed over the bar. Parkville went close via a Tom Pollard free from the left, but he could only guide his effort wide on the near side. On the 20 minute mark, Roland Sanni found himself in one-on-one, but Ewan Breen came out of the goal and dealt with the danger.
The game changed when Sanni saw red for standing on a Hanover player with ten minutes to go until half-time. Four minutes later, Hanover won a penalty and Cian Ray dispatched it with ease, sending his effort straight down the middle.
With five minutes to go until half-time, Parkville had a glorious chance to level the game as a Pollard ball to the back post found Niall O’Byrne sliding in, but he somehow put the ball wide on the right.
Four minutes later, Hanover doubled their lead. Brandon Cassidy’s effort from the right was saved but youngster Leon Fitzgerald hit in the rebound.
Carolan went close with an effort but he was denied by a brilliant save from Breen. But with 10 minutes to go, Carolan gave Parkville a lifeline when he curled in a shot from the right across the goal and into the far bottom corner to give the Tullow side hope of rescuing at least a point that would see them secure their Premier Division status for next season.
He went close again with three minutes left in the contest as his effort from the left found Pollard at the back post but his header was saved. In the final minute, Carolan had an effort from the right, saved.
Ewan Breen, Kevin Power, Harry Lloyd, Conor Harte, Brandon Cassidy, Luke Murphy, Cian Ray, Cathal Coughlan, Leon Fitzgerald, Seb Millere-Khan, Niall Harvey.
Ben Doorley, Gael O’Rock, Ryan FitzGerald, Bailee Cooney.
Dan O’Connor, Lorcan Canavan, Killian Curry, Mitch Kelly, Ronan Byrne, Patrick Hickey, Adam Cleary, Tom Pollard, Niall O’Byrne, Cian Madden, Roland Sanni.
Eoin Carolan.
Mick Murphy assisted by Artur Bienko and Martin Murphy.
