Rathnew AFC 4
Wicklow Rovers 1
Eoin Horkan
Shamrock Park
An Adam Byrne brace proved the decisive factor in a lively and at times fiery local derby on Friday night, as the Village men saw off a spirited Rovers outfit in front of a sizeable crowd.
It was the visitors who settled quickest. Barely a few minutes had passed when Cian Nolan tore down the right flank, skipping past his marker before whipping a dangerous ball across the face of goal. To the frustration of the travelling supporters, it flashed beyond everyone arriving at the back post. Moments later, Rovers threatened again from a corner, Antonio Gamez found himself with the goal at his mercy, only to see his powerful effort beaten away by the in-form Sam Healy, who would go on to have a standout evening between the Rathnew posts.
As the quarter-hour approached, Rovers were firmly in the ascendancy. Their pace out wide was stretching the home backline, and another opening soon followed. This time, Alex Sinnott found himself with a clear sight of goal after a neat passage of play. But once more, Healy stood tall, parrying the effort and ensuring Rathnew remained on level terms despite the early pressure.
Against the run of play, the deadlock was broken—and in some style. With just under twenty minutes gone, the home side seized their moment. A high looping ball dropped kindly to Gary Byrne on the edge of the area. Showing sublime technique, he cushioned the ball before unleashing a sensational volley that flew beyond the Rovers keeper. It was a strike worthy of turning any derby, and it lifted the Village faithful to full voice.
Rovers, to their credit, refused to wilt. Almost immediately they carved out another opening, with JT Moorhouse getting on the end of a flowing move, only to find Healy once again equal to the task. The Rathnew keeper seemed determined that nothing soft would pass him on the night.
Approaching the half-hour mark, Sinnott broke free again after a loose ball fell kindly to him. But with the goal beckoning, he snatched at the chance, and Healy—alert as ever—swept in to gather comfortably. It was becoming a personal duel: Sinnott probing away, Healy answering everything thrown at him.
Rathnew were offering reminders of their threat at the other end, particularly from distance. Bill Moorehouse unleashed a thunderous strike from well outside the box that had the crowd gasping as it skimmed just past the upright. It served as a warning that the home side, though second best for spells, were lethal when given space.
Tempers flared five minutes before the interval when Nolan drew a foul that sparked the first major flashpoint of the match. Amid the protests and sideline agitation, Rathnew’s Dando Franey was dismissed from the technical area, adding an extra layer of tension to an already heated derby.
But it was the hosts who landed the next crucial blow. On the brink of half-time, Adam Byrne took advantage of hesitant defending, cushioning the ball beautifully before slotting into the corner from just inside the box. His composure doubled Rathnew’s lead and left Rovers facing an uphill task after a half in which they had created the better chances.
The second half opened in far scrappier fashion. Tackles were flying in, cards were shown with increasing regularity, and both sides struggled to find any rhythm. Just after the hour mark, Wicklow were awarded a free in a promising position. Sinnott stepped up once more, and though his strike took a deflection on its way through, the ever-assured home keeper reacted sharply, tipping it over.
Minutes later, Rathnew effectively sealed the contest. Breaking swiftly from midfield, Bill Moorehouse surged forward before slipping an inch-perfect pass to Byrne. The forward made no mistake, coolly slotting home to claim his second of the night and put Rathnew into a commanding three-goal lead.
Yet this derby still had life left in it. Sinnott—who had been Rovers’ most persistent threat—finally got the better of Healy with eighteen minutes remaining, bursting through the centre before finishing calmly to give the visitors a glimmer of hope. It was no more than he deserved for his relentless work rate.
Rovers pushed forward in search of a dramatic late turnaround, but the home side finished the stronger. Byrne, chasing what would have been a memorable hat-trick, found himself through on goal again in the closing stages. Rather than shoot, he unselfishly squared the ball across to substitute Ross Quinn, who tapped into an empty net to remove any lingering doubt and ensure all three points would be staying firmly in Shamrock Park.
When the final whistle sounded, it was the home supporters who roared in triumph. Rathnew had weathered sustained pressure, relied on moments of brilliance—and leaned heavily on the heroics of Sam Healy—before pulling away with clinical finishing. For Rovers, it was a night of frustration, one where dominance in patches yielded far less than their endeavour may have warranted.
In the end, though, the scoreboard told its story: a derby decided by big moments, a standout performance in goal, and the ruthless touch of Adam Byrne, whose double set the Village on their way to a hard-earned and memorable victory.
Rathnew:Sam Healy,Ethan Snell,Eddie Doyle,Jonah Graham,John Lester,Jack Healy,Toby Curran,Gary Byrne,Jordan Graham,Bill Moorehouse,Adam Byrne.
Subs Used:Scott Devlin for Jack Healy,Ross Quinn for Bill Moorehouse,Eoin Doyle for Jordan Graham,Kristin Kearney for Eddie Doyle.
Wicklow Rovers:Darragh Hosey,Antonio Gamez,Mick Delaney, Ricky Quinn, Ben Algeri,Jamie Hayden,Tom Smullen,Brian Doyle,Cian Nolan,JT Moorehouse,Lorcan Sinnot.
Chris Muies for Brian Doyle, Alex Sinnott for Antonino Gamez,Thomas Kennedy for Jamie Hayden, NJ Sinnott for JT Moorehouse.
No comments:
Post a Comment