Rovers' fightback comes too late
A SECOND-HALF fightback proved too little too late as Boyne Rovers continued their disappointing start to life in the LSL's Division 1B on Sunday.
Dean Smith's side suffered a blow just before kick-off when their captain Colin Rafferty suffered an injury and was only deemed fit enough to be named as a sub.
However, they nearly broke the deadlock after five minutes when Ciaran Hartnett's fine pass released Keith Mullally who shot narrowly wide from a tight angle.
St Joseph's took the lead from their first attack on the quarter-hour when Rovers failed to defend a corner kick properly and the ball was headed past Fergus Barnett at his near post.
Mullally then went close with an attempted lob that dropped over the crossbar, before Cormac Reid had a 20yard shot brilliantly saved.
The home side doubled their lead on 35 minutes, though – the goal stemming from another corner kick.
This time Andy Mooney headed partially clear, but only into the path of the St Joseph's centre-forward who controlled the ball on his chest before volleying past Barnett.
Rovers found another gear in the second half and a Reid shot clipped the opposition crossbar, while Mullally continued to run their defence ragged.
However, it was only after Smith brought on himself and Rafferty from the subs bench that Rovers found a way through in the 80th minute.
Smith's flick-on from a Thomas Doherty cross was parried by the St Joseph's goalkeeper, but only into the path of Rafferty who finished from close range.
In the closing stages, Rovers' man of the match Mickey Leech had a couple of half-chances to net an equaliser, but it just wasn't to be for the visitors. BOYNE ROVERS: Fergus Barnett; Darryl Carolan, Thomas Doherty, Andy Mooney, Ciaran Hartnett; Karl Brannigan, Mickey Leech, Cormac Reid, Karl Dyas; Eoghan Mulroy, Keith Mullally. Subs: Dean Smith for Brannigan, Shane McCann for Carolan, Colin Rafferty for Dyas, Fiachra Jein, David Lowney.
