MAYO SOCCER 22 MAY 1996
WELCOME INN HOTEL MAYO LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP
CLAREMORRIS COME BACK FROM THE DEAD TO SNATCH POINT
Erris paying dearly for defensive frailties
Claremorris ............................ 2
Erris United ........................... 2
By TOM KELLY. . .AT CLAREMORRIS
Erris United don't need an expert to figure out where their Mayo League Premiership challenge is going radically wrong.They are conceding too many goals and will surely plummet out of the title race unless they can resolve their defensive problems.
Statistics don't lie. The truth of the matter is that United have conceded twelve goals in five games, a run which has resulted in them dropping seven points out of fifteen. It's simple not good enough for a side with title aspirations.
United's performance against Claremorris at the Racecourse Grounds on Sunday clearly epitomised the agony and frustration they were experiencing.
They were two-goals up and coasting after a quarter of an hour before pressing the self-destruct button in remarkable style. John Mangan, the side's emerging young stars, gave Erris a magnificent start with a goal after five minutes following clever work by Harry Reilly and Jimmy Coyle. Steve Carolan, displaying good control on a rock-hard surface, increased the margin eight minutes later with the sweetest of strikes.
Considering Erris were without their two first-choice forwards, namely Eric Reilly, who was suspended, and Kevin Barrett, out of the country on holidays, it was a better opening than they could have imagined.
It was not all Erris United in the frantic early stages. Erris defender Noel McNulty was forced to clean off the goal-line in the tenth minute, while Alan Prendergast also went close with an effort for Claremorris.
The match was turned dramatically upside down during a five minute spell late in the half. Kevin Ring, the talented Claremorris midfield figure, reduced the margin by clinically converting a penalty. Castlebar referee John O'Brien had no hesitation in awarding the penalty after spotting a hand-ball infringement by an Erris defender in the 35th minute.
Then, as if to add insult to the already injured pride of the Erris defence, Davy Donoghue suffered the misfortune of back-heading the ball into his own net.
Claremorris could scarcely believe their luck. But, to their credit, they had responded positively to their early setback.
Michael Shaughnessy, converted from his more accustomed sweeper role to a central midfield position, was always menacing with the ball at his feet, while Stephen Ring penetrated with flair and pace down the left flank.
CAUGHT SHORT
Erris were prepared to go for broke and push more players forward in the second half. But they abandoned that policy when they were caught short at the back on a number of occasions by Claremorris substitute Jeremy Dee's intelligent forays from midfield. Even so, Erris had the better of the second half opportunities.The best of all fell to experienced Erris midfielder P.J. Nallen, back to full fitness after being out for a long spell through injury.
He must surely have believed that he had snatched a winning goal for his side with a perfectly executed close range effort with two minutes remaining. But Claremorris full back Stephen Ring came sensationally to Claremorris's rescue with a brilliant goal-line clearance.
Five minutes earlier, Paul Munnelly went agonisingly close with a headed finish following a corner-kick on the left by Jimmy Coyle. There had also been loud appeals from the Erris dugout for a penalty when Steve Carolan was impeded by Claremorris defender, Kevin Lally, an infringement which was punished by a yellow card. The referee, who was well positioned, adjudged the tackle had occurred outside the 18-yards box and awarded a free-kick.
In the circumstances, Claremorris were more than happy with the draw which gave them their fifth point in five games and kept them four points clear of the relegation zone.
If they keep that ratio going, it should be enough to ensure their survival in the top flight with seventeen or eighteen points expected to be enough to stay up.
Claremorris: S. Kearney, J. Mellette, S. Ring, J. Kelly, K. Lally, M. Walsh, M. Heaney, K. Ring, N. McGuinness, M. Shaughnessy, A. Prendergast. Res: J. Dee (for Heaney).
Erris United: M. Healy, M. Boylan, N. McNulty, P. Munnelly, D. Donoghue, P.J. Nallen, S. Carolan, M. G. Reilly, J. Mangan, H. Reilly, J. Coyle. Res: M. McIntyre (for M.G. Reilly); P. Reilly (for J. Mangan).
Ref: J. O'Brien (Castlebar).
* Star Rating: Stephen Ring. . .his vital late clearance saved Claremorris.
MAYO SOCCER SCOREBOARD
Connaught Club Champions (Michael Byrne) Cup
Strand Celtic 3, Manulla 2.Welcome Inn Hotel Premiership
Straide & Foxford United 1, Ballyglass 3
Claremorris 2, Erris United 2
Urlaur United 2, Achill Rovers 1
Westport United 3, Conn Rangers 2
Welcome Inn Hotel Division One
Glenhest Rovers 1, Ballyheane 4Charlestown Athletic 0, Ballyvary Bluebombers 3
Lacken United 5, Ballina Rovers 0
Moy Villa 1, Castlebar Celtic 2
Swinford 2, Manulla B 2
Welcome Inn Hotel Division Two [SOUTH]
Ballaghaderreen 5, Roundfort 2Ballyhaunis 1, Newport Town 3
Knock United 1, Snugboro 2
Welcome Inn Hotel Division Two [NORTH]
Parkside Celtic 0, Crossmolina 7Ballina United 3, Hollister 2
Bangor Hibs 3, Glenisland United 2
Welcome Inn Hotel Reserve Division [WEST]
Ballyglass 1, Westport United 4Achill Rovers 4, Ballyvary Bluebombers 1
Ballyheane 1, Manulla 1
Welcome Inn Hotel Reserve Division [EAST]
Ballina Rovers 0, Claremorris 1Conn Rangers 1, Swinford 2
Straide & Foxford 3, Urlaur United 2.
League games rescheduled
The Welcome Inn Hotel Premiership game between Westport United and Ballyglass, postponed on April 14th owing to the Connaught Cup final replay, has been rearranged for Thursday, May 24th, at 7.00p.m.The Welcome Inn Hotel Premiership match involving Castlebar United and Manulla, postponed last Saturday because of Manulla's Michael Byrne Cup match against Strand Celtic, is being rescheduled for Bank Holiday Monday, June 3rd.
The opening round Tuohy Cup clash between Achill Rovers and Claremorris
will also be played on June 3rd.
Connaught Telegraph - News - May 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - May 1996
