Connaught SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP
March 13 1996
United throw title race wide open again
Straide & Foxford United .......................... 2
University College Galway ......................... 0
Straide & Foxford United have smashed the Connaught Senior League Premiership race wide open. In a display which epitomised all that was good about United's remarkable success story, they inflicted on table toppers University College Galway their first defeat of the campaign. The magnificent result brought United level with College at the top of the Premiership with forty points each, although United have played one game more.
The sides are due to meet again in the league in ten days time at Dangan, Galway, in a match now being billed as the title decider.Two second half goals by Johnny Jordan, from the penalty spot, and Michael Costello ensured Straide & Foxford of a deserved victory.
But the key to their win were the performances at midfield of Martin Neary and Michael Costello. They completely blotted out the threat of College play-maker, George Taylor, who was subsequently substituted.
Taylor's forte is his ability to supply the side's wingers with accurate passes. On this occasion he could not make an impact because of the manner in which Neary and Costello limited his time and space.
Johnny Jordan was also in exhilarating form for United. He bemused the best defence in the Connaught Senior League with his running on and off the ball.
The game might not have been a classic to watch, but that scarcely worried a United side which needed to win.
United got off to the better start and Brian Joyce tested goalkeeper, Tom Rowan, with a good shot following a throw-in by John Kenny. Jordan went close to opening his side's account in the 27th minute, but Rowan produced a brilliant save by pushing the bal around a post.
College created the most clear-cut opportunity of the first half when Shane O'Loughlin was put clean through. But his point_blank effort was saved by the alert James Larkin between the posts.
Just before the break, Brian Joyce headed a good effort over the top following good work by Declan Smyth.
BROKE DEADLOCK
Straide & Foxford broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when a long ball from midfield by John Kenny found Smyth lurking at the edge of the penalty area. He knocked the ball sweetly inside to the menacing Johnny Jordan who was fouled by Harry Costello. Jordan took the penalty himself and gave goalkeeper Rowan no chance.United wrapped up the issue thirteen minutes later when a corner-kick by Martin Keaveney was headed in at the far post by Michael Costello. Declan Smyth had won the corner with a shot saved by Rowan.
There was no stopping Straide & Foxford United now.
Although College produced some of their best passages of play after falling two goals behind, they never looked like breaking down the rock-solid United defence.
The challenge now facing Straide is to win their remaining two games against University College Galway and Mervue United, both away, to maintain their hopes of retaining the title.
If they succeed in doing that, and it won't be easy, they could end up facing U.C.G. for the fifth time in a title play-off.
Straide & Foxford: J. Larkin, D. Flannery, B. Joyce, J. Kenny, A. Durkin, D. Smyth, M. Keaveney, M. Costello, M. Neary, L. McHale, J. Jordan. Res: N. Reape (for Smyth).
University College Galway: T. Rowan, G. Pasquier, G. Beatty, S. McLoughlin, R. Kiely, H. Costello, G. Taylor, S. O'Neill, C. Killeen, C. Costello, J. Joyce. Res: M. Keane (for O'Neill); P. Curran (for Taylor); B. Leahy (for Joyce).
Ref: J. Cawley (Ballina).
* Star Rating: Johnny Jordan. . .cool, calm and collected.
The Title Run-In
The following are the fixtures in the run-in to the Connaught Senior League championship race.University College Galway: v Straide & Foxford (March 24th, home); v Sligo Rovers (March 16th, away); v Mervue (date to be arranged, away);
Straide & Foxford: v U.C.G. (March 24th, away); v Mervue United (April 7th,
provisional, away).
Connaught Telegraph - News - Mar 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - Mar 1996
