Hanover left staring at the drop after ninth defeat of the season
Crettyard’s Craig Comerford clears his lines Photo: Michael O'Rourke
The 2018 Nationalist Premier Division champions are all but confirmed to be playing Division 1 football next season after defeat against Crettyard.
They’ve been in the Premier for over 20 years but they are heading into last chance salon. They need to the home of the newly crowned champions, New Oak and win to have any chance of forcing a play-off. New Oak will be in party mode that day as they are presented with the Nationalist Premier Division trophy but they will be keen to protect their three-year unbeaten home record.
Even then, a win mightn’t be enough if Parkville manage to pick up a point against Bagenalstown.
Hanover knew that this was the game to win if they were going to have any chance of staying up to keep things in their own hands and ith everything at stake for Hanover you’d have expected an intensity and an energy from the start. That wasn’t there though and they struggled to create chances early on and went behind early, therefore chasing the game from there.
Crettyard took the lead early when Jack Brady raced through on goal but the final touch came from defender Conor Harte, who deflected into his own net.
With 20 minutes gone, a Kevin Power cross from the right was headed just wide on the far side by Eoghan Byrne. A Liam Ryan free from the edge of the box was saved as John Dunphy palmed it away. Brandon Cassidy attempted an effort from distance on the right but Dunphy saved.
Just after the half hour mark, Liam Ryan who has been one of the few Hanover players to stand out this season levelled things up with his fifth goal of the season. Kevin Power broke into space down the right and sent in a cross across the box where Ryan got onto the end of it and volleyed his effort across the Crettyard ‘keeper.
Two minutes before half-time, a Crettyard effort was saved but the rebound fell into the path of Riogan Doran who could only steer his effort wide on the right. A Gearoid Cuddihy free just before half-time was saved brilliantly by young Ewan Breen.
Just after half-time, Dylan Waters saw an effort saved. Just shy of the hour, Byrne had an effort saved by Dunphy in the Crettyard goal.
With 20 minutes gone in the half, Crettyard took the lead again as Anthony Fitzpatrick knocked in an effort from close range.
Ryan went close for Hanover but saw his effort saved. With nine minutes to go, a corner from the left found Cassidy but his header was hit just over. Fitzpatrick struck just wide with three minutes to go. In stoppage time, as Hanover pushed for a late equaliser to give them some hope going into next week, a Cian Ray free thwacked off the crossbar and was cleared.
At the death, there seemed to be a clash of heads and Hanover were appealing desperately for a penalty but they were waved away by the referee and they now need an unlikely set of results to avoid the drop.
Ewan Breen, Kevin Power, Harry Lloyd, Conor Harte, Brandon Cassidy, Luke Murphy, Ben Doorley, Cathal Coughlan, Liam Ryan, Eoghan Byrne, Cian Ray.
Seb Millere-Khanal, Ryan Fitzgerald, Gael O’Rock.
John Dunphy, Blake Rice, Gearoid Cuddihy, Craig Comerford, Mikey Byrne, Jack Brady, Ross Fitzgerald, Jonah Kelly, Dylan Waters, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Riogan Doran.
Ryan Byrne, Niall Purcell, Cristoir Maher, Matt Kelly.
Pat O’Connor assisted by Nathan Bannon and Martin Murphy
