Fergal O’Hanlon’s 2-9 Rockcorry 2-15

Monaghan Electrical Reserve Football League Division 4 , Round 7 – Wednesday 9^th June 2010

Rockcorry overcome late challenge to Earn Points

Team: Jamie Smith, Pauric Reilly, Rory Carroll, Cathal Sheridan, Ryan Sharkey, Colin Reilly, Shane Wynne, Barry Patterson 0-1, Liam Connolly 0-1, Keelan Clerkin 0-2, Colin Quinn 0-2, Declan McCullagh 0-1, Mark McGuirk 1-7, Anthony Tate and John Greenan.

Subs: Andrew Carroll for John Greenan, Gerard O’Brien 1-1 for Mark McGuirk.

We travelled to Monaghan on Wednesday 9^th June to play Fergal O’Hanlon’s in round 7 of the reserve league competition. The match was just twenty seconds old when Barry Patterson went close to registering our first score but his shot at the target hit the cross bar and was eventually cleared by Fergal O’Hanlon’s. A minute later Fergal O’Hanlon’s opened the scoring when they hit a neat point from play. Declan McCullagh shot wide in the 2^nd minute but we got on level terms in the 3^rd  minute when we won the ensuing kick-out and Declan McCullagh fired over a terrific point to get us on the scoreboard.

In the 5^th minute, Fergal O’Hanlon’s regained the lead after we lost possession and they notched over a fine point from play. A couple of minutes later, Anthony Tate was brought down and Mark McGuirk’s attempt at the target landed short but we did get a forty-five that Mark took himself and he glided the ball over the bar to draw the sides level. Barry Patterson was unlucky not to score, in the 7^th minute, this time his effort hitting the upright. Good defending by Cathal Sheridan in the 10^th minute, allowed us to set up another attack and when Mark McGuirk was fouled approximately twenty metres from goal on the left wing he slotted the free-kick over the bar to put us a point up. Fergal O’Hanlon’s kicked wides in the 11^th and 13^th minutes before Mark McGuirk extended our lead when he converted a free-kick after Keelan Clerkin was hauled down approximately twenty-five metres from goals. In the 16^th minute we capitalized, when Fergal O’Hanlon’s were penalized for an illegal hand pass and Mark McGuirk scored the resulting free-kick. Fergal O’Hanlon’s kicked another wide in the 18^th minute but did manage to close the gap when they lobbed a high ball into our square and was punched over the bar.

An attempt at the uprights by John Greenan, in the 21^st minute, lacked power and was easily collected by the Fergal O’Hanlon’s goalie  and they broke at pace and reduced the gap to a single point when they scored a neat point from play. In the 23^rd minute, Rory Carroll fouled his opponent and the Fergal O’Hanlon’s free-taker took it quickly but the referee decided that it was too short and the danger was cleared. Colin Quinn got on the scoreboard in the 24^th minute when he collected a pass from Keelan Clerkin and scored a fabulous point.  We hit two bad wides within a minute, one from Colin Quinn and the other from Mark McGuirk. Somebody once told me to avoid using clichés at all costs, but I think they are a good means to illustrate certain events in just a few words. The old saying “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again” reflects the efforts and energy shown by Barry Patterson who hit the crossbar and the upright with earlier attempts, but in the 26^th minute he eventually managed to get his name on the score sheet when he sailed over a wonderful point from the left wing. He was probably being too hopeful when he collected the ball two minutes later, but on this occasion his shot drifted well wide! Just before the break Colin Quinn was awarded a free-kick which he took himself and he dissected the uprights with aplomb to leave the half time score Fergal O’Hanlon’s 0-4   Rockcorry 0-8.

When play resumed Fergal O’Hanlon’s converted a free-kick after Colin Reilly fouled his opponent twenty-five seconds after the throw-in. Keelan Clerkin kicked wide moments later but he did make amends when he sailed over a great point from the right wing following a good move including a number of players. Shortly afterwards, the lively Mark McGuirk strengthened our position when he nipped in behind the Fergal O’Hanlon’s defence and blasted home our first goal to leave the score FOH 0-5 Rockcorry 1-9. Mark McGuirk was fouled, in the 5^th minute, approximately thirty metres out but for dissent if was brought up and he tapped the ball over the bar. A minute later Fergal O’Hanlon’s delivered a long pass into their full forward line but Jamie Smith showed his alertness and was quick off his line to gather possession and clear the danger. Fergal O’Hanlon’s converted a free-kick, in the 9^th minute, and when Pauric Reilly was adjudged to over carry the ball they closed the gap further when they notched the free over to leave the score Fergal O’Hanlon’s 0-7 Rockcorry 1-10.

At this stage of the game we stamped our authority on proceedings as we scored five points without reply in a fruitful seven minute spell. The first score came from the boot off Mark McGuirk, in the 12^th minute, when he slotted over a terrific long range free-kick. Liam Connolly got the second when he finished in style a good move that involved Colin Reilly and Ryan Sharkey. In the 17^th minute, Ryan Sharkey was brought down and Mark McGuirk once again showed his accuracy to grab the third. Barry Patterson produced a wonderful catch from the kick-out and he off-loaded to Keelan Clerkin who raced through unopposed and scored a fabulous point. Ryan Sharkey was fouled again, in the 19^th minute, and once again indiscipline let Fergal O’Hanlon’s down as the ball was brought up for a much easier free-kick and Gerard O’Brien, who was introduced for Mark McGuirk, took over the free taking duties and fired the ball right between the posts to open up a commanding eleven point lead on a score-line Fergal O’Hanlon’s 0-7 Rockcorry 1-15.

However, Fergal O’Hanlon’s got a major boost when they blasted home their first goal in the 20^th minute and it got even better for Fergal O’Hanlon’s as immediately afterwards they had the ball in the back of the net again. A long delivery found their full forward and when he turned inside Rory Carroll he sent a powerful shot past our keeper Jamie Smith to close the deficit back to five points. Fergal O’Hanlon’s were now growing in confidence and a comeback was on the cards and additional points in the 26^th and 28^th minutes just left three points separating the sides. While Fergal O’Hanlon’s desperately tried for a late equalizing goal, we remained strong in defence to deny them certain scores and we had the last say when the ball was fed through to Lionel Messi, apologies, it was Gerard O’Brien as he turned back the clock to show that he can still keep up with the younger players as he weaved his way through the Fergal O’Hanlon’s defence turning defenders inside and out before he wrong-footed the goalie to tap the ball into an empty net to put the tie out of reach and leave the final score Fergal O’Hanlon’s 2-9 Rockcorry 2-15.

While we won by six points we could off and should off won by a much greater margin as at one stage we had a comfortable eleven point lead but we gave away two easy goals that allowed Fergal O’Hanlon’s back into the game. It must be said that we will face stiffer tests as the league progress and it is vital that we eliminate mistakes and play as a team. If we can do this and build on our performance we could well be competing at the business end of the league something we are well capable of achieving. Keep up the good work lads.