League's new boys restore some pride
Derek Delany chips a delicate finish through a crowded Marsh penalty area to seal a 2-0 win for Rock on Thursday.
Wednesday September 01 2010
PREMIER new boys Marsh Celtic, mauled 6-0 by Carrick the previous week, would hardly have looked forward to facing reigning champions Rock Celtic at Sandy Lane last Thursday. However, Paddy Thornton's men restored some pride with a much improved performance which raised hopes that their first points of the campaign might be just around the corner.
The Drogheda side actually created the game's first chance, but a Rock defender reacted smartly to deflect Patrick Kiernan's close-range effort over the bar.
At the other end, keeper Johnny Breen had to make a fine save when Brian Kilboye went through one-on-one, but otherwise the Marsh defence coped well against their more illustrious opponents and went in 0-0 at the break.
Rock retained their composure, though, and finally got their noses in front on 55 minutes when a long ball from David McGeough was flicked on by Dessie McKeown to Tony Walsh, who shot past Breen.
Marsh, who had sensibly gone with a 4-5-1 formation up to this point, immediately went 4-4-2 as they went in search of an equaliser.
A chance presented itself to Danny Coyle when the Rock keeper found himself stranded well out of his goal, but the striker – facing an empty net – volleyed wide from the edge of the box.
It proved a costly miss, for Rock extended their lead in the 80th minute with a fine effort from Derek Delany from the edge of the box.
The ace marksman, who made a dazzling return to the side hitting four goals in the first game of the season after missing the end of last term with injury, wrapped up the victory.
Brian Kilboye and fellow midfield players, Walsh and Seamus McCabe were involved in the build-up. When Delany took possession he tried to pass the ball through to Kilboye, but it came back to him and he cheekily chipped the goalkeeper from the edge of the box. ROCK CELTIC: Garry Lennon, David Hoey, Sean Watters, David McGeough, Gareth Papworth, Padraig Walsh, Tony Walsh, Seamus McCabe, Brian Kilboye, Derek Delany, Dessie McKeown (Andrew Duffy). MARSH CELTIC: Johnny Breen; Gary Smith, Conor Murtagh, Gary Thornton, Kevin Farrell; Robbie Craig, Emmet Judge, Richie Kelly, Robbie Daly, Danny Coyle; Patrick Kiernan. Subs: Shane Wall for Coyle, Greg Leahy for Kelly, Leighton Rice for Farrell.
