Honours even at The Plots as Hanover lose crucial ground in relegation tussle
Hanover’s Cathal Coughlan fires in the opening goal of the match Photo: Michael O'Rourke Photography
Hanover lost crucial ground in the relegation battle on Sunday morning as Burrin came from behind to claim a point at The Plots. The result now sees Hanover, who knew regardless of the result that they would still be bottom of the table trailing nearest rivals, St. Fiacc’s by four points at the foot of the Premier Division table.
The last game between these two sides just a few weeks ago in the Premier cup saw them produce a ten goal thriller; this one was far less eventful as both sides played a cagey game, knowing that there was so much on the line, both sides needing a crucial win but also needing to not lose. To be fair to both sides though, they have both struggled for goals this season so far, they are two of the bottom three in terms of goals scored.
Burrin will be happiest with a point in the grand scheme of things but will know that they could have escaped with all three. Alex Kelliher in particular was sublime for Burrin, whilst youngster Ewan Breen in the goal kept Hanover in the game for large periods, making some crucial saves to deny the visitors.
It was a fantastic game for a neutral with a big crowd present at the Plots to watch and it was almost a tale of two halves. Hanover were asking all the early questions and scored early courtesy of a cracker from Cathal Coughlan, and dominated the majority of the first half before Burrin nicked an equalising goal. Burrin came back into it in the second half and caused problems for the Hanover defence.
Hanover went closest early on after seven minutes as Eoghan Byrne jumped on a loose ball in the box and fired it goalwards but saw his effort saved by Craig Doyle in the goal. The ball spilled and looked like it was headed towards the line but Doyle recovered it just in time. Alex Kelliher who has been the break out star of the season so far could have opened the scoring four minutes later as he curled an effort just wide of the bottom left hand corner.
Hanover opened the scoring when Cathal Coughlan, the last remaining member of the 2018 title winning side struck an effort off the crossbar with the man who played such a key part in Old Leighlin’s Senior Football Championship win this season seeing his shot ricochet off the crossbar and go in behind Doyle in the goal to give Hanover a crucial opening.
Hanover missed a glorious chance with nine minutes to go until half-time as Eoghan Byrne smacked an effort from the left hand side of the box off the crossbar.
Burrin levelled things up when Evan Corr played a long ball through for Eric Molloy and in an effort to clear the ball, it was forced into the back of his own net by Conor Harte, the former Pat’s defender powerless to stop it.
Haanover came out fighting after the break and with just seconds on the clock, Byrne went close with an effort from the left as he got in behind Doyle in the goal but saw his effort cleared off the line.
Five minutes in, Kelliher saw his effort well saved by Breen. The resulting corner from the right from Brian Maher saw Corey Kelliher head the ball off the crossbar and into the goal but the referee and linesman adjudged the ball to not have fully crossed the line. Brian Maher who returned to the Burrin side this year having spent time in the Wexford academy all the way up, fed Molloy but the former Wexford, Waterford, Shelbourne and Longford star was denied by a flying save from Breen.
On the hour mark, a Maher corner from the right was headed just over by Corey Kelliher. With seven minutes to go, Molloy went close he could only steer his effort over the bar.
Ewan Breen, Kevin Power, Adam Nolan, Conor Harte, Brandon Cassidy, Luke Murphy, Cian Ray, Cathal Coughlan, Kieran Nolan, Liam Ryan, Eoghan Byrne.
Ben Doorly, Seb Millere Khan, Shane Murphy, Niall Harvey, Bailey Cooney-Thompson.
Craig Doyle, Noah Cullen, Corey Kelliher, Evan Corr, Shane Smith, Ryan Clarke, Dylan O’Reilly, Brian Maher, Eric Molloy, Alex Kelliher, Johnny Maher.
Myles Hutton, Charlie Clarke, Josh Fernandez, Conor Ruane, Oisin Nolan, James Dowling.
Shane Farrell assisted by Nathan Bannon and Mick Monaghan
