Rathnew 2
Ashford Rovers 2
Eoin Horkan
Shamrock Park
A late strike from Toby Curran, arriving seven minutes from time, ensured the home side completed a stirring comeback to remain firmly in the title hunt after an absorbing derby clash in Rathnew on Sunday.
The opening stages were tight and cagey, with neither side willing to overcommit in the first ten minutes. It was the visitors, however, who struck first with the game’s opening chance. A surging run from Paul Moran carved open the defence, and his delivery into the area was met by Danny Byrne, who kept his composure to slot neatly past the goalkeeper.
Moments later, the home crowd were left perplexed when a dangerous ball into the box appeared to present a clear penalty opportunity, only for the referee to award a free out to the visitors instead.
Despite that setback, the home side began to assert themselves. Toby Curran delivered a teasing cross that found Bill Moorehouse inside the area, but his volley lacked the power to trouble the goalkeeper. Momentum was beginning to swing, yet it was the visitors who struck again approaching the half-hour mark. A well-worked corner caused problems in the box, and Moran reacted quickest to steer the ball into the corner of the net and double his side’s advantage.
The remainder of the half saw both defences on top, with clear-cut chances at a premium as each side cancelled the other out. The final opportunity before the break fell to Ross Quinn, but determined defending ensured the visitors went in at the interval with a firm grip on proceedings.
Whatever words were exchanged in the Rathnew dressing room at half-time had the desired effect, as the hosts emerged with renewed purpose. They immediately pressed high up the pitch, with Moorehouse, Quinn and Jodi Merrigan leading the charge.
That early pressure soon yielded chances. Curran tried his luck from distance after picking up a loose ball, but his effort was well dealt with by goalkeeper Craig Armstrong. Moorehouse followed up shortly after with a strike from the edge of the box, only to be denied by another excellent save.
The home side thought they had reduced the deficit ten minutes into the half when a long ball found Moorehouse and he finished confidently, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
They were not to be denied for long. On the quarter-hour mark, Curran delivered once more into the danger area, and Merrigan was on hand to apply the finishing touch, sparking celebrations among the home supporters.
Play was then halted for a lengthy period following a head injury to visiting centre-back Anto Byrne, with concern evident around Shamrock Park. Thankfully, Byrne was able to continue, allowing the contest to resume.
From that point on, the game belonged to the home side as they relentlessly chased an equaliser. Armstrong found himself at the centre of the action, producing a series of fine saves to keep his side in front. Jack Healy was first to be denied, while Merrigan continued to pose a constant threat, seeing a dangerous run halted by resolute defending before sending a cross come shot narrowly wide.
Substitute Evan O’Connor also came close in the closing stages, only to be thwarted once again by the inspired Armstrong, who was doing everything in his power to preserve his side’s lead.
However, the pressure eventually told. With seven minutes remaining, a Moorehouse corner caused chaos in the penalty area, and Curran was perfectly placed to guide the ball into the net, completing a deserved comeback for the hosts.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing minutes, but neither could find the decisive breakthrough as the referee brought an end to a gripping and hard-fought local derby that kept spectators enthralled until the final whistle.
Rathnew:Sam Healy,Ethan Snell,Jonah Graham,Jason Devlin,Calum Kelly,Jack Healy,Toby Curran,Eoin Doyle,Jodi Merrigan,Bill Moorehouse,Ross Quinn.
Subs Used:Evan O’Connor for Ross Quinn, Dylan Kavanagh for Jonah Graham
Ashford Rovers:Craig Armstrong,Jason Ashley,Christ Smit,Gary McNabb,Anto Byrne,Brian Harrington,Paul Moran,Finn Brooks,Danny Byrne,Conor Williams,Colin Ashley.
Subs Used:Liam Kavanagh for Jason Ashley,Brian O’Sullivan for Anto Byrne ,Stephen Kavanagh for Danny Byrne,Adrian Murphy for Danny Harrington.
Referee:Dominique Lachaussee
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