Salter strikes late to keep Crettyard in the hunt for back to back titles
Crettyard’s Jamie Maher celebrates after putting his team a goal up against New Oak. Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
Lee Salter struck late in the game to keep Crettyard’s title hopes alive as they recorded a huge victory over their old rivals New Oak, who recorded back to back losses for the first time in over eight years. You have to go back to 2018 to find the last time that New Oak lost to Crettyard and even further back to find the last time that they recorded a win over their old rivals. This marks New Oak’s third defeat this season, something that hasn’t happened in over eight seasons. New Oak controlled the majority of the possession and squandered chances but Crettyard defended staunchly. This was a must win game for both sides to keep their league destiny in their own hands.
After a minute’s silence that was impeccably observed in honour of the tragic death of Indie Mae Byrne, niece of club stalwart Mikey Byrne, it was a fight from the start with both sides trying to find a breakthrough in the game. With nine minutes gone, a James McGrath free from the left was cleared. Two minutes later, a Liam Mullan corner from the right was cleared. Kyle Foley’s effort was saved on 14 minutes before a Craig Comerford free from halfway was cleared. With 23 minutes gone, Luke Ramsbottom hit an effort wide from the right across the box. A minute later, Dylan Waters hit an effort from the right wide on the near side. Jordan Harmon saw a free cleared. Just after the half hour mark, a Cian Cleary effort threatened to cause problems but it was well saved by Jeff Moran who spilled the ball but it was cleared by the Crettyard defence. James McGrath hit a free from the right into Moran.
With eight minutes to go until half-time, Crettyard took the lead, much against the run of play. Liam Mullan pinged in a ball to Jamie Maher down the right hand side and Craig Kearney came out to deal with the danger and Maher beat him and got in behind him to fire home from the right hand side, sticking the ball into the far side of the goal. Four minutes later, Roy Byrne from the right hit an effort wide on the near side under pressure. With three minutes to go til the break, New Oak equalised. Luke Ramsbottom down the left hand side played in a ball into the middle where a Cian Cleary bicycle kick met it and it was hit into the right hand side of the goal. In stoppage time, Cian Dowling and Dean Kelly both had efforts saved.
Straight after the break, Jamie Maher hit an effort into Kearney. Two minutes later, Craig Comerford had a free from the left deflected wide with the resulting corner from the right being cleared. Ten minutes into the half, a Kelly free from the right was cleared. Two minutes later, James Dowling hit an effort from the left wide. With 20 minutes gone, New Oak should have taken the lead when Byrne down the right put a cross into the box and found Ramsbottom at the back post but he took too much time on the ball and his effort was saved. Midway through the half, a Comerford free from halfway was cleared. Lee Walker who came back in from the county football team caused problems and put an effort from the left over the bar. With 29 minutes to go, a McGrath free from the right was deflected wide on the far side. Six minutes later, a Comerford corner from the right was cleared. With 13 minutes to go, a Harmon free was hit over the bar. Padraig Lawlor hit an effort wide on the left. David Doyle hit an effort from the left across the box. Lee Walker had an effort from the right cleared off the line by Comerford’s head.
With three minutes to go, the veteran striker, Lee Salter was played in behind the New Oak defence and he buried his shot into the bottom right hand corner as Crettyard took the lead. At the death, Harmon had a free from the right cleared. In stoppage time, Salter hit an effort from distance from the right wide across the goal. Speaking afterwards, manager Criostoir Maher and senior player Craig Comerford were quick to insist it was only three points but will be ready to swoop in should New Oak or Pat's slip up again.
The result leaves St. Pat’s as the only team who can control their own destiny. 12 points from their final five games will see them crowned champions, but they still have to go to Crettyard and New Oak. New Oak and Crettyard need to win all their games but also require a favour, likely from each other.
Jeff Moran, Jack Brady, Mark Lyons, Craig Comerford, Ryan Byrne, Colin Osborne, James Dowling, Liam Mullan, Dylan Waters, Anthony FitzPatrick. Subs: Lee Salter, Padraig Lawlor, Cormac Murphy, Seamus Dowling, Niall Purcell, Blake Rice.
Craig Kearney, Kyle Foley, Cian Dowling, David O’Shea, David Keating, James McGrath, Jordan Harmon, Dean Kelly, Cian Cleary, Roy Byrne, Luke Ramsbottom. Subs: Lee Walker, David Doyle, Lee Gordon, Lee Murphy, Chris Blake, Dylan Keightley, Daryl Coleman.
Referee: Mick Monaghan, assisted by Joe Byrne and Ross Cole
