Kentstown Rovers survive a stern OMP examination
by Conall Collier Updated: Wednesday, 31st August, 2011 4:56pm
OMP Utd 2, Kentstown Rovers 3
OMP's Ciaran Tansey takes a balanced approach towards Kentstown's Derek Ratcliffe.
Kentstown Rovers shaded the verdict in this action-packed Meath & District League Div 1 clash against hosts OMP Utd at the MDL on Sunday morning and moved to the top of the table.
Central to Kentstown's success was the predatory instincts of Keith Walsh who opened and closed the scoring as the sides produced an exciting tussle in weather conditions that changed from brilliant sunshine to heavy rain as the action unfolded.
The pace of the opening 25 minutes was frantic and it came as no surprise when the tempo dropped noticeably for the closing stages of the first-half.
And it was during those closing minutes of the half that the OMP rearguard was unhinged when Walsh broke clear and placed a well-struck shot out of the reach of goalkeeper Brian Brady's despairing dive.
Prior to that, each side created some good chances with Ciaran Tansey involved in a lot of promising OMP attacks. Tansey was denied by a good Keith Shiels save and soon after Andrew Kearney went close.
Barry Carlton and Eanna Donohoe also had chances for OMP while Kentstown enjoyed some good moments with David Doyle and Walsh causing problems before that crucial opening goal.
OMP resumed smartly with Greg Halpin causing a lot of concern for Kentstown with his raids down the wing. From one early cross Donohoe was narrowly off target, but it was the introduction of Keith Crosse that made a big difference.
Crosse, only back a couple of weeks from injury, had OMP on terms eight minutes after his introduction and with his side in the ascendancy both Donohoe (header) and Kearney went close.
However, Kentstown were handed a lifeline when Walsh was taken down in the penalty area by a mistimed John Rogers tackle and David Doyle converted the resultant spot kick.
OMP went asleep subsequently and Walsh got in for a third, but the Navan side kept battling away, despite the loss of Crosse to a tackle that earned a yellow card for the Kentstown defender. Kearney pulled one back in injury-time, but it was too late.
OMP Utd - B Brady; John Rogers, G Halpin, D Corcoran, S Geraghty, Joey Rogers, C Tansey, B Carlton, E Donohoe, A Kearny, D Murray. Subs - K Crosse for Murray 54 mins, C Collins for Crosse 83m.
Kentstown Rovers - K Shiels; R McDonnell, S Gargan, S Doyle, D Ratcliffe, C Lynch, M Bates, G Toal, D Doyle; K Walsh, D Lynch. Sub - A Ingman for D Lynch 72 mins.
Referee - Jim Yeates (Meath Branch ISRS)
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