Newlands denied Ballyfermot scalp
BALLYFERMOT United fought back from the brink of defeat to edge out bottom-of-the-table Newlands/Castle Park 2-1, with Jason O’Neill firing home a later winner in Moyle Park College on Sunday.
The Leinster Senior League Major One clash saw leaders Ballyfermot trailing after Newlands winger Anest Shewan netted, but the addition of substitute Paul Kavanagh gave the leaders a second wind.
Ballyfermot struck late to clinch the victory
Newlands set the pace from early on and almost found the back of the net when striker Jack McNeill broke through on goal leaving him one-on-one with Stephen Hickey but Ballyfermot netminder made the stop.
McNeill continued to prove a threat to the Ballyfermot backline and went close again with a headed effort, but defenders Ryan Casserly and Dean Ryan had shut up shop.
The homeside did eventually edge in front when John O’Rourke’s attempted chip hit the crossbar resulting in winger Anest Shewan scoring a simple tap-in.
Directly from the kick-off, winger Liam O’Rourke went close to doubling his side’s lead with a long-range effort that sent the ball spinning just wide.
Yet, Ballyfermot showed just why they are top of the table as they moved through the gears in the closing quarter with the addition of some fresh legs in John and Paul Kavanagh and Aaron Valentine.
Kavanagh’s effort cannoned off the crossbar moments after he came on before striker Darryl Henderson restored parity when he slotted into an open net after getting on the end of Jordan Lawless’ free.
Both teams started piling men forward and Newlands almost edged back in front when Conor Behan’s ball found O’Rourke in space, but could not convert with Ballyfermot’s Hickey smothering out the attack.
The Hickey stop sparked brilliant counter-attack down the left flank involving Casserly and Adam Kane before striker Jason O’Neill applied the finishing touch by way of a superbly executed lob.
