Updated: Wednesday, 20th January, 2010 4:56pm

Comments () | Print | Email |

Knightsbrook in extra-time

by Jimmy Geoghegan

Knightsbrook 4, Ratoath Harps 2, after extra-time

Action from Sunday's Leinster Junior Shield game at the MDL, Navan between Knightsbrook and Ratoath Harps as Mervyn Ennis and Andrew Salama challenge for possession.

The cut and thrust of knock-out competitions appear to inspire Knightsbrook. They have already taken the scalp of Duleek in the MDL Challenge Cup and they advanced to the next round of the Leinster Junior Shield with this victory on Sunday.

This time they took the scenic route going all the way to extra-time before finishing off Ratoath Harps who can have few complaints with the final outcome.

If this game was decided on territorial dominance alone Knightsbrook would have claimed victory long before the end yet the Harps proved to be ace opportunists taking some of the limited chances that came their way to stay in contention.

The score was 2-2 at the end of normal time with Cillian Ryan netting for Knightsbrook while Turlough O'Neill and Jason Harte replied for Ratoath Harps.

Then in extra-time Knightsbrook turned the screw further and powered their way to a deserved win with goals from Michael Tyndall and Craig O'Hanlon.

It was fitting that O'Hanlon should have finished off the scoring as he had a huge influence on proceedings with a piece of skill not often seen during soccer games.

Like Rory Delap, O'Hanlon has the rare ability to get distance and power into throw-ins. Time and again he launched exocets into the Ratoath Harps box. Each time they caused consternation and Ratoth were happy to scramble the ball away, if they could.

Anthony Craig, Darren Blaney and Ryan were all presented with decent chances that originated in long throws from O'Hanlon, who along with Clayton Keegan and TJ Garry, worked hard in the Knightsbrook engine room.

"We haven't had a game for six weeks so to win today was a great credit to the players, they showed great spirit and determination," said Mick Craig who manages Knightsbrook along with Billy Tyndall. "The win today means we have a lot of games coming up, but we'll deal with the situation week by week. Today I though Clayton Keegan was immense, but it was a great team effort."

The Knightsbrook spirit was demonstrated with the way they came back from the concession of the opening goal despite dominating the early exchanges.

Harte played a long ball out of defence for Ratoath to Gary Naughton who crossd for O'Neill to skilfully finish.

Knightsbrook remained composed and passed the ball well and found the equaliser on 25 minutes when Craig and O'Hanlon combined to set up Ryan to neatly slot home.

The same players were involved in giving Knightsbrook the lead soon after with Ryan again applying the coup de grace. It looked at that stage Knightsbrook might push on to win comfortably. Instead the Harps broke from absorbing a lengthy spell of pressure to conjure up an equaliser just before the interval. Andrew Salama was fouled, referee Gerry Keoghan pointed to the spot and Harte confidently slotted home. Despite practically owning the ball for long spells in the second-half Knightsbrook couldn't conjure a third. Ironically it was Ratoath Harps who went closest to scoring with Kevin Boyle's piledriver rebounding off the bar.

In extra-time Knightsbrook's sustained pressure eventually told. In the opening half Craig swept over from a corner kick and Tyndall fired home from the edge of the box. Minutes later Ryan was fouled in the box and O'Hanlon netted from the spot-kick. It was game set and match.

"We had chances, but overall Knightsbrook deserved to win, they are a big strong team," added Harps manager Pat Naughton.

Mick Conmey and Conor Ennis were among those to shine for his team.

For Knightsbrook it's upwards and onwards as a busy few months beckons.

Knightsbrook - E Goulding; T Dempsey, J Moynihan, D Blaney, A Gilbane, C O'Hanlon, C Keegan, T J Garry, C Ryan, A Craig, M Tyndall. Subs - E Murphy for Dempsey, S Goulding for Ryan.

Ratoath Harps - R Lombard; D McGill, T O'Neill, M Conmey, A Salama, C Ennis, P Higgins, K Boyle, J Harte, G Naughton, C Brady. Subs - M Ennis for Brady.

Referee - Gerry Keoghan (Meath Branch ISRS).