Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 2-2 Fahy Rovers

March 29th 2008 Crossmolina 2-2 Fahy Rovers

Prior to kickoff a double rainbow arcing over the freshly cut pitch heralded the return of Summer soccer but the match that followed had more in common with Winter considering the gloomy, depressing football it offered. Crossmolina returned to the Premier League after a two year sojourn in the top flight and, rather ironically, their opponents were the team they had beaten in a playoff to secure that promotion. Rovers desire for revenge was immediately evident as they dominated their hosts from the start. In a physical contest the finer aspects of the game were absent for different reasons as Fahy were content to bombard their opponents defence with high balls while the Deelsiders attempts to play football were disrupted by the voracious Rovers midfield. The visitors were gifted an opening goal after five minutes when a defensive error allowed an innocuous Fahy clearance to find Robert Fadden who gratefully fired the ball over Morgan O’Malley from the edge of the box. The lead was doubled after twelve minutes when Fadden seized on the ball at the right corner of the penalty area and drilled a ferocious shot past O’Malley into the bottom left corner. The remainder of the half was distinctly forgettable. Fahy’s defence was imperious and their aerial domination blunted any attacking edge the hosts possessed. They completely neutralised the Crossmolina attack, to such an extent that their goalie David Feehen didn’t have a save to make.

The game descended into a bloody-minded battle during the second half, as an almighty downpour soaked the pitch, the dusk sky displaced the last rays of brightness and the winds reminded the players that Summer time hadn’t arrived just yet. Both sets of eleven toiled manfully against the conditions and it was Crossmolina who seemed to be faring better. Pierce Loftus endeavoured to retrieve some hope for his team when he executed a creative overhead kick in the penalty area that was straight at Feehan. The hosts forced Fahy into retreat but they could not create the chances to capitalise on their increasing superiority. Corner kicks presented them with their best chances and Loftus again came close when he hunted down a parried save by Feehan on the byline but his hooked effort was blocked at the right post by a defender. Having weathered the storm Rovers squandered a couple of chances to seal the victory late in the game. First Fadden was the beneficiary of another defensive lapse but, perhaps stunned by his good luck, he couldn’t sum up the will to shoot and he stood motionless ten yards from goal, until he was dispossessed. In another attack he attempted to complete his hat-trick but he shot wide. Thomas Keane later embarked on a mazy dribble into the right side of the penalty area that seemed certain to culminate with a goal but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. With nightfall imminent and both sides physically exhausted from their efforts the game found a second wind when Paul Flaherty arrowed a twenty five yard free kick into the top right corner with thirteen minutes remaining. In an instant the goal restored hope to the beleaguered hosts while causing the visitors to question the cost of those earlier missed chances. Those concerns were justified when, with less than five minutes left, an underhit defensive clearance by Rovers landed at the feet of substitute Michael Timlin and he rifled a twenty five yard shot into the bottom right corner to give his team a share of the spoils. At the end of a titanic tussle both sides will be pleased to have avoided defeat as they prepare for the long campaign ahead.

Crossmolina – Morgan O’Malley, Darragh Carroll, Pierce Loftus, Michael Cafferty (Kenny Canavan 70), John Duggan, Paul McGuinness, Matthew Coldrick (Michael Timlin 45), Paul Flaherty, Derek Greham, Anthony Ruddy (Adrian Conway 65)

Fahy Rovers – David Feehan, Peter Heraty, Joe Keane, Francis Sheridan, Sean O’Donnell, Pat McNally, Richard Needham, Tomas Keane, Stephen O’Malley (David Beckett), Gary Coggins, Robert Fadden (Robert Ferris)

Referee – Michael McCay

Crossmolina 2-2 Fahy Rovers

Courtesy of Fahy Rovers reporter

Fahy Rovers came away from a tricky away tie to Crossmolina with a point on the opening day of the season, but in truth it should have been all three. Fahy will rue several missed opportunities to put the game out of reach having surrendered a two-goal lead in the last fifteen minutes. Fahy goalkeeper Davy Feehan had little to do for seventy five minutes until a thirty five yard free kick found its way into the back of the visitors net. This gave the home side the confidence to push for an equaliser, and five minutes later they found themselves level after a thunderous volley from the edge of the box gave Feehan no chance. Fahy had gone in two up at half time thanks to a brace from striker Rob Fadden. The first came after only ten minutes in a dream start for the Rovers. The industrious Tomas Keane, who had bossed the midfield all day, found his midfield partner Richie Needham with the deftest of passes, and after a neat one-two with Peter Heraty, Needham, dubbed ‘the ginger Ronaldo’, slid in front man Fadden who unleashed a wonder strike from the edge of the box. The Crossmolina keeper could only stand and watch as the ball rattled the back of his net.

Fahy then suffered a setback when they lost their inspirational captain and talisman Steven O’Malley through injury. However, the loss did not prove too costly as his replacement, David Beckett, produced some of his best form in a dazzling display of wing wizardry. Fahy soon hit a deserved second when full back Sean O’Donnell won possession after a crunching tackle with Crossmolina striker Derek Grahame. O’Donnell found winger Pat McNally who skipped gazelle-like past two defenders before picking out Fadden with pinpoint accuracy. Fadden didn’t hesitate in claiming his second of the game with a first time shot low into the corner of the net. Fahy had several chances to go three up, and perhaps put the game beyond doubt, but were unlucky to twice hit the woodwork, first through McNally and again five minutes later after great work by the ubiquitous T. Keane. The Crossmolina keeper then produced a string of great saves to keep his side in it before their late fight back began. Both sides will be happy to have points on the board after the opening day but Fahy may well feel it should have been more.

Fahy Rovers: D. Feehan, P. Heraty, S. O’Donnell, J. Keane, F. Sheridan, S. O’Malley (D. Beckett), R. Needham, T. Keane, P. McNally, G. Goggins, R. Fadden (R. Ferris).

Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 2-2 Fahy Rovers