Roscrea United 1-3 Nenagh Celtic
This week’s eye catching fixture was in Kennedy Park as Roscrea United hosted Nenagh Celtic in the NT&DL Premier Division.
Nenagh came away with the spoils after a gutsy effort in conditions that would not suit their passing style.
With both teams missing their top scorers, Paul Kirwan and Jimmy Hynes, due to work commitments goals might have been very hard to come by. Roscrea also missing Keith McMahon in the goal and also Darren O’Connor in the heart of defence, knew they had it all to do if they were to come away with any points here.
The game started at a frantic pace with both teams looking to draw first blood and indeed it was Roscrea who did exactly that when a corner from Brian Moloney found the head of Niall O’Lone who found the net to give the hosts the lead after just 5 minutes. Roscrea, who are second in the table would struggle from here and on 12 mins Celtic equalised after a mistake at the back seen Craig Connolly race through on goal and roll the ball past Bryan O’Lone to score his 6th of the season. Celtic kept the pressure on and Connolly was twice denied on 15 mins when firstly Roscrea Captain John Cordial saved a certain goal with a last ditch tackle and from the resulting corner Stephen Delaney did the same from Connolly. On 25 mins the dangerous Connolly once again found the ball and his attempt to lob O’Lone in the goal was stopped by the impressive Ian Treacy before it could cross the line. The game became scrappy after this and hard tackles were on the menu as these two tough teams fought it out and Celtic midfielder Din Ryan was starting to assert his dominance in the game. On 42 mins Ryan picked the ball up near half way and burst through two players only to drag his resulting shot wide of the Roscrea goal.
The second half started as the first ended and both teams fought for domination. With yellow cards been the most regular of sights in the second half it was Celtic who once again got on top but Cordial, Treacy, Nash and Delaney would not make it easy for them. Roscrea rang in the changes with Gary Gleeson, Stephen Murphy and John Paul Graham replacing Eddie Simmons, John Pio Fitzpatrick and Stephen Delaney with the latter due to injury. Roscrea at this stage were beginning to tire and Celtic seemed to be pushing more and more forward looking for the win and on 78 mins a brilliant reverse pass from Marky Walsh completely deceived the hosts defence and Din Ryan raced through and cooly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to put Celtic into a deserved lead. Three minutes later things got from bad to worse for Roscrea as Stephen Flynn found the ball in the box and his lacklustre shot somehow managed to squirm its way into the net to end the game as a contest. Eddie Shoer, Sean O’Meara and Michael Ryan replaced Connolly, Flynn and Stevie Ryan in the latter stages as Celtic held out with ease.
A huge win for Celtic in a place that bitter rivals Nenagh Afc were demolished and this could be a pivotal win as they look for the Premier Division Title.
Roscrea will look to bounce back quickly after this and continue their magnificent start to the season but will feel they didn’t test Herlihy in the goal enough without Kirwan in the team.
The best players on the day we’re Niall O’Lone and Ian Treacy for Roscrea whilst Celtic’s Marky Walsh, Stephen Flynn, Craig Connolly and Din Ryan were exceptional.
NTSC Man Of The Match:
Din Ryan
Teams:
Roscrea United:
1. Bryan O’Lone
2. David Nash
3. Ian Treacy
4. Stephen Delaney
5. John Cordial
6. Evan Fitzpatrick
7. Niall O’Lone
8. Robbie Ryan
9. Eddie Simmons
10. Brian Moloney
11. John Pio Fitzpatrick
Nenagh Celtic:
1. Alan Herlihy
2. Christopher Ryan
3. Paul Walsh
4. Stevie Ryan
5. Din Ryan
6. Michael Hynes
7. Benny Sheahan
8. Mark Flannery
9. Marky Walsh
10. Stephen Flynn
11. Craig Connolly