Hanover survive to keep unbeaten record
Crettyard's Over 35s were beaten 3-0 by Evergreen
Carlow Concrete Tanks Seniors’ Division 1
Hanover Harps 2 St Pat’s Boys 1
Hanover survived a tough challenge from St Pat’s on Friday night to keep their unbeaten record in the league going and, with Crettyard losing to Evergreen, they are the only unbeaten side left and are three points clear at the top of the table. They didn’t have it easy, though, and for large periods they were frustrated by Pat’s.
Hanover made life difficult for Pat’s from the off and with two minutes gone Alan Shaw sent in a free from the halfway line but it was cleared. A minute later, a Liam Byrne (Pat’s) corner was cleared. Okunle Gbadgbo hit an effort from distance over the bar. With ten minutes gone, Jason Murphy went close with an effort, but he hit it straight at the goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Murphy struck a cross for Aaron Wynne to get on the end of, but he scuffed his shot and it was cleared. Fourteen minutes in, a Shaw corner was hit into the box and was cleared. Murphy went close with an effort that went just wide. With eight minutes to go to half-time, Shaw hit a free well wide. Four minutes later, an Ian Fleming free was saved.
It was Pat’s who caused problems after half-time. Two minutes in, Ross Townsend went close with an effort from distance before a Fleming free was cleared after Derek O’Toole couldn’t get his shot away. With 42 minutes on the clock, Hanover were awarded a penalty which was dispatched to the net to give the hosts the lead.
With almost 20 minutes gone in the second half, Bryan Carberry put in a cross for Wesley Faulkner, but he headed his effort at the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Michael McCartney hit in a cross and Anthony McGrath headed it into the bottom left-hand corner despite the best efforts of Peter Branagan in goal.
With four minutes to go, a Byrne (Pat’s) free was cleared. With three minutes to go, Pat’s were awarded a penalty, with Townsend dispatching into the net. Finally, Mark Doogue went close but hit his effort went across goal.
Hanover Harps: Robert Moore, David Dunne, Jason Murphy, Eric Robinson, Johnny Waters, Alan Shaw, Ray Walker, Michael McCartney, Simon O’Shea, Aaron Wynne, Tim O’Brien. Subs: Alan Bolger, Anthony McGrath, Cathal Coughlan, James Ryah, Paul Dowling, Mark Hession, Mark Corcoran.
St Pat’s Boys: David Lawler, Jamie Farrell, Liam Byrne, John O’Neill, Ian Fleming, Ross Townsend, Darragh Harland, Olkunle Gbadgbo, Mark Doogue, Derek O’Toole, Josip Belcic. Subs: Bart Brumelaar, Bryan Carberry, Wesley Faulkner, Michael Condron, Peter Brannigan.
This was a convincing performance by Moone on Saturday evening. Paddy Mulhall got the visitors on their way early when he got on the end of a Peter Troute cross. Ten minutes later it was two when Kevin Osborne latched onto a wonderful through ball and slid it past the advancing goalkeeper.
Troute then got his first goal for Moone after 25 minutes following a fine delivery by Dave Fox. Village pulled a goal back with eight minutes to play in the first half from a wonderful free kick from 40 yards and, with their tails, up half-time came at the wrong time for them.
Moone settled during the break and introduced Paul Van De Kerkoff, who made an immediate impression, tapping home from close range after some excellent wing play by Dave Fox. Van de Kerkoff added a second with 20 minutes to play and it was the most exquisite of finishes as he clipped the ball over a defender’s head and volleyed home. He would go on to complete the scoring shortly after when an excellent team move involving Fox, Jonny Molloy and Paul sealed his hat-trick and put the shine on an excellent individual performance.
