Parkvilla move into top four position

Parkvilla1

Larkview Boys0

GER Lynch's goal on the half-hour mark and a brilliant late penalty save by Ken Hughes were crucial as Parkvilla defeated Kimmage side Larkview Boys in the Leinster Senior League Div 1A at Claremont Stadium on Friday night.

The home team created a number of openings in the first 20 minutes as Lynch with a header and Robbie Dillon with a shot both went close to netting.

Good play by Ken Ratty and Dillon also gave Mark Brady an opportunity, but the Larkview goalkeeper tipped his effort over the crossbar.

Parkvilla did hit the front when Brady picked up a loose ball and produced a powerful shot which was parried by the 'keeper, but Lynch netted from the rebound.

Larkview didn't threaten in the first-half and 'Villa continued to dominate the third quarter when Lynch twice went close.

Hughes produced a great save to deny Larkview an equaliser 15 minutes from the end and he made an even more dramatic intervention 10 minutes later when he saved brilliantly from a penalty after he was adjudged to have committed a foul.

'Villa, who were well served by Stephen Gough, Danny Lambe and Ratty, held out for victory which pushed them up to fourth position in the table.

Parkvilla - K Hughes; A Brakewaite, C Kennedy, S Gough, D Lambe, B Dillon, K Ratty, K Beckham, A Wilkinson, G Lynch, M Brady. Subs - D O'Neill for G Lynch, C Lynch for Beckham, B Rogers for Dillon.

Referee - David Murphy (Meath Branch).

Ratoath Harps1

Shamrock Rovers0

Aaron Timmons' goal midway through the second-half earned Ratoath Harps a home victory over fellow promotion contenders Shamrock Rovers in the Leinster Senior League Major Division on Friday night.

Wind-assisted Rovers had most of the first-half possession and Ratoath were kept busy defending some well-taken corners as they looked dangerous on the break thanks to the efforts of Matt Conway and Timmons.

Mark Shannon went close with a header following a good cross from Conway, but Ratoath had a narrow escape when a long range shot came back off the crossbar.

They responded positively to that scare and finished the first-half well, with Jordan Lancaster narrowly off target from a free which shaved the outside of the post.

Rovers dominated the early stages of the second period, but with midfielders Danny Lonergan and Shannon becoming more influential the tide turned in Ratoath's favour.

Some good saves by the Rovers' goalkeeper and a great block by Ratoath full-back Paul Byrne helped keep the scoreline blank, but the breakthrough came when Conway's skill and persistence took him past three defenders and his pinpoint cross was volleyed home by Timmons.

Lonergan, Conway and Ciaran Donnelly were particularly impressive in a strong team performance.

Ratoath Harps - G Duff; D Geraghty, C Donnelly, J Burke, P Byrne, B Maguire, D Lonergan, M Shannon, J Lancaster, M Conway, A Timmons. Subs - K Scally for Lancaster, K Byrne for Timmons.