It's win or bust for Straide & Foxford
Connaught SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP
March 1996
Tom Kelly reports
Straide & Foxford United's hopes of retaining the Connaught Senior League Premiership reaches a critical point at Green Road, Foxford, on Sunday (k.o. 3.00p.m.) when they face table-toppers University College Galway. Anything less than a win will be considered an unsatisfactory result in United's spirited title chase. Here's the scenario.
Victory would bring Straide & Foxford level with U.C.G. on 40 points. That would make for an exhilarating climax considering the two sides are due to meet again in a number of weeks.A draw would leave United three points behind College. Considering they would have one more game played than the Galway side, it could be extremely difficult to claw back the margin.
Defeat would almost certainly end the Mayo's side aspirations. To go six points behind at this stage of the series would be disastrous.
U.C.G., to their credit, have played like potential champions since the beginning of the campaign. In fact they have only dropped two points out of a possible forty-two, a remarkable run by any standards.
They have the best scoring record in the league with 54 goals and the most impressive defensive record, having conceded just ten goals. Conor Killeen is the league's top scorer with 19 goals. Everything about U.C.G. suggests they will be elevated to the throne of the Connaught Senior League for the second time in the club's history.
There is just one worrying aspect for College. . .the persistence and resilience of Straide & Foxford.
Like U.C.G., United have not lost a game in the series but dropped eight points by virtue of the fact they drew four of their fifteen games played. Their scoring average is two goals per match, while they have conceded just 13 goals.
Straide & Foxford have actually performed better in the league this season than they did when they won the crown last season.
After eighteen games last season in Section B, they had the equivalent of 37 points (last season there were just two points for a win). Now, after just 15 games, they have a similar tally.
SCORCHING PACE
In that respect, the standard of competition is higher because of the scorching pace College have set.Straide & Foxford maintained their challenge with a 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers at Foxford on Sunday. Johnny Jordan brought his tally to 12 goals with the side's third goal in the 77th minute. Martin Neary (5th minute) and Martin Smyth (57th minute) were the side's other scorers.
The game marked the return from suspension of central defender Alex Durkin who was solid throughout.
Despite being well below full fitness, James Larkin played his second consecutive game in goal and kept a clean sheet.
Michael Costello, plucked from the club's under-18 team, was outstanding in midfield.
At the same time, U.C.G. were running up a 5-0 win over Mervue with George Taylor and Conor Killeen both scoring twice, and Sean O'Neill getting the fifth.
There is little doubt United and College will be full of confidence when they meet on Sunday.
It promises to be a cracker, but I suspect College will get the draw they
need.
Connaught Telegraph - News - Mar 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - Mar 1996
