Sensational Zeberek strike earns Johnstown a point
Kacper Zeberek rifled a sensational Johnstown equaliser from all of 35 yards tonight at the MDL in a crucial 2-2 NEFL Div 1 draw with title-chasing OMP Utd.
It was a merited leveller from a free with 13 minutes remaining and it earned a vital point that might just sustain Johnstown's push for a promotion place although they can't afford to drop any more points.
For OMP Utd a draw was a fair return from a game in which they scored three of the four goals with Mickey Brennan's own goal providing a first equaliser for Johnstown on the hour mark.
OMP were ahead from Ryan Murphy's first-half penalty converted in the 34th minute and they forged ahead again in the 70th minute when Andrew Kearney finished to the net.
Zeberek's 77th minute equaliser for Johnstown was the highlight of a good competitive encounter, but it took a finger-tip save from centre-forward-turned-goalkeeper Dylan Byrne to keep out a late Brennan effort for OMP.
Darren McQuillan and Jason Colton were solid at the heart of the Johnstown defence while their OMP counterparts Joe Garvey and Daire Corcoran were equally effective.
Zeberek was the stand-out player although he lacked support at times when in promising positions.
Johnstown go to Athboy on Sunday and a win there is vital to sustain the push for a place in the promotion race.
OMP Utd - David Nolan; David Bracken, David Gallagher, Joe Garvey, Daire Corcoran, Stephen Casey, Andrew Kearney, Graham Hill, Ryan Murphy, Michael Brennan, Gavin Boyle. Subs - Criag Dixon for Hill half-time, Mark Horrigan for Murphy 87m.
Johnstown - Dylan Byrne; Dylan Bollard, Jake McDermott, Darren McQuillan, Jason Colton, Jamie Connolly, Vinny Murphy, Mark Grumley, Kacper Zeberek, Arnold Ruskenas, Wayne Cahill. Subs - Jonathan Forde for Grumley 65 mins, Dan Halligan for Cahill 75m, Ger Lynch for McDermott 85m.
Referee - Camillus Perry (Meath Branch).
THE DIV 1 TABLE
P W D L F A Pts
OMP Utd 17 12 4 1 46 17 40
Ardee Cel 17 11 5 1 42 19 38
Enfield Cel 18 12 3 3 63 31 36*
Black Bull 17 11 2 4 44 27 35
Johnstown 18 8 4 6 54 41 31*
Navan T 17 6 5 6 31 36 23
Athboy Cel 17 6 2 9 25 28 20
Square Utd 17 4 3 10 27 47 15
Woodview 19 4 2 13 30 62 14
Torro Utd 18 4 2 12 25 58 14
Trim Town 15 4 1 10 31 37 13
Kentstown 16 3 3 10 25 40 12
FRIDAY
Black Bull v Ardee Celtic
SUNDAY
Athboy v Johnstown.
Enfield v Trim Town.
Navan Town v Kentstown.
Square v Torro.
OTHER REMAINING GAMES
OMP v Ardee
OMP v Enfield
OMP v Navan Town
OMP v Trim Town
OMP v Square
Johnstown v Athboy
Johnstown v Black Bull
Johnstown v Ardee