Suncroft AFC 1 SPWFC 1
Suncroft will feel slightly aggrieved to have not picked up the three points against St Patrick's Well on Wednesday but could still consider themselves fortunate to have picked the single point they did. The home side started on the front foot and thought they took the lead with only eight mins played when Niall Costigan followed in a shot and scored from the rebound but the goal was ruled out with the referee feeling the ball was kicked out of the goalkeepers hands. The next opportunity came when Dylan Connolly flashed the ball just wide of the post from twelve yards after a neat one-two with Costigan. Costigan came close himself from a free kick on the edge of the area moments later but his curling effort just cleared the crossbar. Connolly again came close to opening the scoring when his sharp turn in the box opened the space to shoot but his low effort was pushed away by the SPWFC 'keeper. The home side failed to make their dominance count as the sides went in for the break nil all.
The croft continued to push for that all important opener right from the start of the second half. Kieron Sheedy had the best of the early chances, Cathal Mahon's deep cross was headed into his path by Connolly but Sheedy failed to make a clean connection and his close range effort cleared the bar. Ryan Farrell was next to come close when his headed effort from a Josh Lee corner also failed to find the target. Further chances were spurned as the half wore on, Gary Lowe failing to convert a Connolly cut back, Connolly seeing his shot saved when played through by Paddy Flood and Flood himself seeing his goal-bound effort blocked near the goal line. With the 'Croft desperate to get the goal their play deserved and committing more and more bodies to attack they were served a reminder that the away side could still cause some trouble, a mix up in defence saw St Patrick's Well get their first real sight of goal with eight minutes played. 'Croft keeper Colin Farrell was alert to stop the danger with a timely tackle. With only five minutes left to play the away side took the lead. Despite the warning only minutes earlier Suncroft were caught with too many players up the field and a long ball through right down the centre saw the SPWFC striker nip in between Gary Scully and Colin Farrell to stab the ball home. Suncroft almost equalized only two minutes later but Connolly's well struck free-kick crashed off the crossbar. On the stroke of full time the home side managed to finally put the ball in the net. A wide free-kick was handled inside the area and Connolly made no mistake from the spot to salvage the draw. Best for the home side were man of the match Dylan Connolly, Niall Costigan, Liam Knight, Cathal Mahon and Kieron Sheedy.
Coill Dubh AFC 2 Ballycane Celtic FC 3
Ballycane claimed their fifth win of the season when the travelled to Coill Dubh on Wednesday evening. The home side struck first on fifteen minutes with an excellent finish from Conor Brady. Ballycane immediately struck back with the veteran Noones pin point cross finding the head of the unmarked Preston in the box to make it 1-1. Ballycane went 2-1 up with a carbon copy of the first goal. Noone again the provider with Preston rising highest again to make it 2-1.
The second half started with both teams feeling each other out. Ballycane went 3-1 up on the fifty eight minute when the instrumental Noone played a beautifully lofted ball to the in form Hazzard who took it on the chest and fired past Anderson in the Coill Dubh goal.
The home side answered back within five minutes with a lovely Dylan Hannon strike from just inside the Box. The game ebbed and flowed with the home side pressing for an equaliser and Ballycane looking to put the game to bed. Further chances for Hannon and Barry Noone couldn't see them level the game and Hazzard and Callum o Reilly couldn't put the game to bed. Ballycane soaked up some late pressure from the Dubh to come away with all three points.
Best for the winners were Dean Preston, Callum o Reilly, Dan Whittaker and man of the match Keelan Noone.
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