17th May 2024
NEFL Division 4
Castle Villa 2-1 Ballivor FC
Castle Villa welcomed Ballivor FC to Villa Park on Friday night hoping to record their fourth successive win of the league season.
Villa started on the front foot, moving the ball well through the thirds with some nice passing sequences. This nice play created several chances for Villa. A looping header from Jared Cole nearly found its way into the corner of the net but narrowly went wide. Despite their domination across the park, the home side soon fell behind in the scoring. Ballivor worked the ball up the pitch and despite Villa’s efforts to get it cleared, number 7 Killian O’Reilly pounced on a loose ball and put the away side 1-0 up. Villa refused to lie down after this setback and soon received a penalty after a foul on Adam Tallon in the box. Unfortunately for Villa, the penalty didn’t find the back of the net. James Brady also went close to levelling things up, with his brilliant strike from outside the box agonisingly hitting the crossbar. Halftime arrived with the score 1-0 to Ballivor.
A rejuvenated Castle Villa returned to the pitch for the second half following words of encouragement from Gaffer Jason Clarke (Turk) and captain Richie McKeever. Villa kept pushing for the equaliser with Eoin Kane, Tom Beirne and Scott Lynch going close. An injury forced Villa into the first change of the evening with Luke Mulholland entering the fray in place of Adam Tallon, after a great performance from the number 4. Villa finally got the breakthrough they deserved in the 65th minute. Lovely play from Jared Cole down the right wing led to the ball working its way to the feet of Tom Beirne. Villa’s no.9 made no mistake putting the ball through the legs of the keeper. GOAL. 1-1. Villa knew that they had to make the most of this momentum and fresh legs immediately entered the field of play, with Steven Mooney and Jared Cole making way for Dylan Smith and Dean Murtagh. Soon after, in the 69th minute, the Villa comeback was complete. Richie McKeever drove forward with the ball and passed it to Eoin Kane. The number 10 placed a lovely shot to the bottom corner leading to scenes of jubilation on the Villa sideline. 2-1 to the home side. Mikie Mongey and Jack Kearney replaced Scott Lynch and Tom Beirne following great performances from the pair. Villa worked tirelessly throughout the final 20 minutes with the backline of Niall Campbell, Eric Molloy, Luke Mulholland and Dylan Smith putting in a great defensive shift. The midfield of James Brady, Eoin Kane and Richie McKeever were excellent throughout, and the reinforcements off the bench maintained their great work. Keeper Jono Francis was dominant and quick off his line, claiming high balls to relieve any pressure. Villa saw out their 2-1 lead to the end to claim another 3 points for themselves.
4 wins out of 4, 12 points on the board.
Castle Villa:
Jonathan Francis
Niall Campbell
Adam Tallon
Eric Molloy
Steven Mooney
James Brady
Richie McKeever
Eoin Kane
Jared Cole
Tom Beirne
Scott Lynch
Subs:
Luke Mulholland (for Tallon 51’)
Dean Murtagh (for Cole 65’)
Dylan Smith (for Mooney 65’)
Mikie Mongey (for Beirne 74’)
Jack Kearney (for Lynch 77’)
James Kirk
Conor Farrell
NEFL Division 4
Castle Villa 2-1 Ballivor FC
Castle Villa welcomed Ballivor FC to Villa Park on Friday night hoping to record their fourth successive win of the league season.
Villa started on the front foot, moving the ball well through the thirds with some nice passing sequences. This nice play created several chances for Villa. A looping header from Jared Cole nearly found its way into the corner of the net but narrowly went wide. Despite their domination across the park, the home side soon fell behind in the scoring. Ballivor worked the ball up the pitch and despite Villa’s efforts to get it cleared, number 7 Killian O’Reilly pounced on a loose ball and put the away side 1-0 up. Villa refused to lie down after this setback and soon received a penalty after a foul on Adam Tallon in the box. Unfortunately for Villa, the penalty didn’t find the back of the net. James Brady also went close to levelling things up, with his brilliant strike from outside the box agonisingly hitting the crossbar. Halftime arrived with the score 1-0 to Ballivor.
A rejuvenated Castle Villa returned to the pitch for the second half following words of encouragement from Gaffer Jason Clarke (Turk) and captain Richie McKeever. Villa kept pushing for the equaliser with Eoin Kane, Tom Beirne and Scott Lynch going close. An injury forced Villa into the first change of the evening with Luke Mulholland entering the fray in place of Adam Tallon, after a great performance from the number 4. Villa finally got the breakthrough they deserved in the 65th minute. Lovely play from Jared Cole down the right wing led to the ball working its way to the feet of Tom Beirne. Villa’s no.9 made no mistake putting the ball through the legs of the keeper. GOAL. 1-1. Villa knew that they had to make the most of this momentum and fresh legs immediately entered the field of play, with Steven Mooney and Jared Cole making way for Dylan Smith and Dean Murtagh. Soon after, in the 69th minute, the Villa comeback was complete. Richie McKeever drove forward with the ball and passed it to Eoin Kane. The number 10 placed a lovely shot to the bottom corner leading to scenes of jubilation on the Villa sideline. 2-1 to the home side. Mikie Mongey and Jack Kearney replaced Scott Lynch and Tom Beirne following great performances from the pair. Villa worked tirelessly throughout the final 20 minutes with the backline of Niall Campbell, Eric Molloy, Luke Mulholland and Dylan Smith putting in a great defensive shift. The midfield of James Brady, Eoin Kane and Richie McKeever were excellent throughout, and the reinforcements off the bench maintained their great work. Keeper Jono Francis was dominant and quick off his line, claiming high balls to relieve any pressure. Villa saw out their 2-1 lead to the end to claim another 3 points for themselves.
4 wins out of 4, 12 points on the board.
Castle Villa:
Jonathan Francis
Niall Campbell
Adam Tallon
Eric Molloy
Steven Mooney
James Brady
Richie McKeever
Eoin Kane
Jared Cole
Tom Beirne
Scott Lynch
Subs:
Luke Mulholland (for Tallon 51’)
Dean Murtagh (for Cole 65’)
Dylan Smith (for Mooney 65’)
Mikie Mongey (for Beirne 74’)
Jack Kearney (for Lynch 77’)
James Kirk
Conor Farrell
