Newlands earn vital win over Ballyer
NEWLANDS/CASTLE PARK……………………………4
BALLYFERMOT UNITED………………………………..1
By Daire Walsh
SEAN Nolan conjured goals in each half at Watery Lane on Monday evening to give Newlands/Castle Park a vital win over LSL Major 1D opponents Ballyfermot United.
Having begun the latest round of fixtures six points adrift of their seventh-place opponents – with three games more played – Newlands were desperate for a positive result.
There was little between the sides in the opening stages of the action, as Liam O’Rourke and Ballyfermot striker Sean Redmond cancelled each other out with composed finishes.
In terms of chances generated, it was also quite even throughout the course of the game, yet it was Newlands who proved that bit more ruthless with their openings.
Stephen Quinn’s charges were aiming to extend an impressive run of form and had their first sight of the target in the 12th minute. Paul Kavanagh produced some excellent work on the left-wing and forced a low stop out of Newlands netminder Wayne Joyce.
However, it was the hosts who ultimately pounced for the opening goal of the contest two minutes later. O’Rourke raced onto a precise through ball and unleashed a smooth strike underneath the body of Stephen Hickey.
This was undoubtedly a set-back for Ballyfermot and they breathed a sigh of relief when Gavin McCormack’s deflected effort marginally cleared the crossbar moments later. The visitors restored parity just past the first-quarter mark when Kavanagh’s enticing set-piece fell to the feet of Redmond and he side-footed to the bottom left-hand corner.
Kavanagh was taking the game to Newlands at every available opportunity and was unfortunate to see his long-range drive crashing against the woodwork.
The sides looked destined to remain inseparable at the break until Newlands took matters into their own hands with a stunning blitz towards the end of the half. Firstly, Jay Ormond turned home a Nolan delivery on the right-flank to edge the Clondalkin men back into the ascendancy.
This was followed by Nolan’s first goal of the proceedings on 41 minutes, which propelled Newlands into a 3-1 advantage.
Ballyfermot suddenly found themselves chasing the game on the resumption and Quinn looked to his bench for inspiration, with all five substitutes introduced by the 65th-minute.
Luke Flannagan was the most impressive of these replacements, offering fresh impetus on the left side of the Ballyfermot attack. Given they were angling for a way back into contention, it seemed inevitable that gaps might appear in their defence.
A ball over the top in the 67th-minute released Nolan and he delicately lobbed the advancing Hickey to further increase Newlands’ advantage.
A three-goal deficit was somewhat harsh on Ballyfermot and they continued to ask questions of the home team’s back-four as the half wore on.
Flannagan flashed a series of low crosses into the danger zone and Joyce had to be at his best to deny Jordan Lawless. Flannagan had looked set to narrow the gap with six minutes left to play, only for the post to come to the aid of Newlands.
NEWLANDS/CASTLE PARK: W Joyce; P Buckley, J Keegan, J Whiteman, S Corney; A Russell, C Behan, G McCormack, L O’Rourke; S Nolan (M Dylan 74), J Ormond (C Ryan 74).
BALLYFERMOT UNITED: S Hickey; M O’Reilly, T Devine, W Haughton, R Rice (L Flannagan 55); J Griffiths (A Maguire 51), J Kavanagh (D Madden 65); R McDonagh (T Thomas 55), L French (J Lawless 51), P Kavanagh; S Redmond.