No fairytale finish for Ollie as Electro claim NEFL clash victory

Sunday 11th November 2018
NEFL Division 4 
BMC United 0 Electro Celtic 1

Ollie Melia brought his long time affair with BMC United to an end on Sunday after twenty three years in management at the club, but unfortunately the curtain didn't come down on a winning note.

Starting off as a player in 1984 with the club he set up a schoolboy team for his son Joe and many others in the area, and managed the team while continuing to play senior football for the club, He eventually took over the seniors as manager. It wasn't the fairytale end he wanted but it was an emotional send-off by his dedicated players and family as Electro claimed all three points. 

Kieron Farrelly should of opened the scoring a few minutes into the game as Brian Kelly played a lovely ball into the striker but he blazed it high and over from close range. James Hughes was next to try his luck for Electro as he collected a ball just inside the BMC half but his shot was too weak to trouble Ollie Mulvaney. 

 

BMC tried their luck from close range soon after, Killian Murphy running onto a pass from Eddie O'Neill before controlling the ball and sending his long range effort towards Jordan Morris in the Electro nets. Ten minutes later it was the same man again looking to open his account for BMC, taking down a ball from a bad clearance he curled a shot over the keeper but Jordan Morris was up to the task when tipping the ball safely over the crossbar for a corner kick. 

John Madden sent a long free kick high and over from long range for BMC and then Eddie O'Neill had a closer free kick on the edge of the box saved by Morris. 

BMC looked to grab that goal for Ollie and it was John Madden looking the more likely to grab it as he fired in to volleyed shots within minutes of each other that made Morris have to save. 

Just on the hour mark, Electro Celtic broke the heart of Ollie as a long throw from right back Jack McIlroy reached striker Kieron Weldon who was left unmarked and he fired a right-foot shot across Ollie Mulvaney in the nets and into the far corner to give them the lead. 

It was a lead that they managed to hold on to and claim a victory that denied Ollie Melia the parting gift he hoped for.

Melia thanked his players for all their commitment over the years and said he only wanted a win to sign off but Electro had spoilt the party. It was, of course, all said in banter as he thanked Electro Celtic and their players for a good game of football and that now was the time to look after himself and Maura. 

BMC Utd team
Ollie Mulvaney, Barry McGuirk, Noel Corcoran, Ferdia Sweeney, Emmet Smith, Ciaran Doherty, Rob Douglas, John Madden, Killian murphy, Eddie O'Neill, Jamie McGee. 
Subs Fiachra Sweeney, James O'Higgins, Alan Reilly, Thomas Melia, Joe Melia, Darragh Clinton

Electro Celtic Team
Jordan Morris, Jack McIlroy, Brian Kelly, Gabriel Patterson, Thomas Tiernan, Harry Eager, James Hughes, Philip Matthews, John McKenna, Ciran Farrelly, Kieron Weldon
Subs Thomas Murtagh, Darry Hutchinson, Aaron Farrelly, Noel Tuite, Jake McKenna, Tommy Curtis, Alan McIlroy

Match Official - Adrian O'Hanlon