An opening day point away to perennial title contenders Carew Park is a result that this new-look Fairview side would surely have grabbed with both hands on the morning of today’s game. But, on the basis of a rampant first-half performance in which they spurned two glorious chances, they will prepare for Thursday’s clash with Moyross knowing that it could, and perhaps should, have been three.
Lineups
Fairview lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with four of the five Geraldines defectors in the starting line-up. Bobby Tier and midweek recruits Paudie Quinn and Brian Murphy (both from Listowel) were named among the substitutes.
Carew also lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with manager Albert Slattery moving away slightly from his tried and tested 4-4-2 formation. Red Hanlon, earmarked for a wide role, was absent due to an ankle injury, meaning that another new signing, Adam Frahill, started in an unfamilar right wing role, with John Connery on the opposite flank. Jonathan Grant dropped back from the frontline to fill the newly created number ten position.
First half
Fairview completely dominated the midfield area in the first half. The away side looked a yard sharper in that area, pressed quicker and were first to the second ball. Carew’s contingent was no match for the energy of Craig Madigan and the 36-year old Colm Heffernan. As a result, Slattery was forced to move Frahill in there on the half-hour mark, with the disappointing debutant Ross McCarthy moving out wide.
The first of Fairview’s two big spurned chances arrived in the first five minutes, fashioned out of nothing by the returning number nine, Colin Scanlon. He outmuscled Tommy Culhane on the right flank, before powering into the area – only to be denied by goalkeeper Brian Collopy, who was quick off his line to block Scanlon’s effort.
Carew struck first, however – against the run of play – thanks to a stunning finish from their own returning number nine, Mark McGrath. McGrath beat Brian Fitzgerald to a speculative ball over the top from Connery, before taking it on the half-volley and powerfully lobbing it over Andrew Walsh from well outside the penalty area.
Fairview went one better with the equaliser on the twenty minute mark – a stunning team goal that underlined the fearsome potential in this new Fairview squad. Scanlon dropped off the front to pick up a firm pass to feet from midfield, before immediately laying if off to Roche in behind. Roche passed it left to Daffy, who himself laid it off to left back Jonathan Hannafin, who had run off his man, Frahill. Hannafin’s first-time cross was then turned in by Scanlon in the centre of the area to complete the move. Wonderful football – and a hint of why I highlighted the signing of Hannafin in my pre-season preview. Although he had a nervy start here, with a couple of misplaced passes in the opening minutes, this is the kind of contribution that few full-backs in the league can bring to bear on games.
Both of Fairview’s full backs were enjoying space throughout this half, as Carew’s wide players got drawn inside to help fight the midfield battle. Young Dylan Murphy on the right also showed well in this game and used the space he was afforded to go on a couple of impressive runs with the ball.
In truth, Carew weren’t getting close anywhere on the pitch. On the half hour mark, Craig Madigan was allowed to walk through the middle of the home side, before one-twoing with Scanlon and shooting straight at Collopy, who again did well to make himself look big in the one-on-one situation. Another great chance gone abegging for the away side.
Carew have a habit of punishing this kind of profligacy – and they very nearly did just that right at the death here. Mark Slattery, who was lucky not to incur a second yellow card for a high challenge seconds earlier, hit the post from a free kick. The ball rebounded to goalscorer, Mark McGrath, in front of goal, who skied his effort under pressure from the View defence. What a chance. The free was won by Connery incidentally, who forced a foul from Danaher near the edge of the area with a dangerous run on the counter – a rare occasion during the first period in which the winger received the ball to feet and was able to run with it.
Second half
The second period of the game was a much scrappier affair, as the home side began to get closer to their opposition – presumably after being on the receiving end of one of Slattery’s infamous half-time verbal volleys.
Jonathan Grant, who looked much sharper and fitter than the Grant of last season today, produced the first shot on target of the half ten minutes in. He showed off his excellent first touch to control a long ball, before working it onto his right and shooting goalward from outside the area. Fairview’s new goalkeeper, Andrew Walsh, signed from Athenry, made a wonderful diving save, low to his right, to deny the Carew number ten.
Carew improved another notch upon the introduction of Jon Somers on the left in place of McCarthy. Carew now had some genuine width, which gave Murphy something to think about and prevented him from being such a factor in possession. The home side also swapped McGrath and Connery mid-way through the half, which perhaps encouraged an already retreating Fairview side to play even deeper.
With good reason too – Connery’s big chance came when he comfortably outpaced Danaher off a long ball. The bouncing ball wouldn’t sit for him however, which gave Walsh the chance to come out and thwart him.
Fairview also shuffled the deck up top, introducing the Listowel contingent Quinn and Murphy in straight swaps for Roche and Nathan O’Callaghan. Murphy in particular looked sharp and had a great chance at the back post from a corner that he himself had won – forcing another good stop from Brian Collopy.
Carew brought on some more width with five to go – in the shape of former Caherconlish winger, Aaron Power, who was introduced on the right in place of McGrath. Power managed to create a chance right at the end of ninety minutes, with a good cross that an unmarked Grant headed wide at the back post.
Fairview had a decent headed chance of their own to clinch it in the first minute of injury-time – a free header from substitute Tier, off a Madigan free-kick, that also went just wide.
That was it in terms of chances. Referee John McNamara did however have time to show two red cards here, as he was forced to do in the Hill/Southend derby yesterday evening. George Daffy picked up a second yellow for a high challenge on Culhane and Connery got one too, for an unnecessary sliding challenge on Madigan in the Fairview half.
Conclusion
Both sides seemed reasonably happy with a draw in the end, but on the basis of their first-half performance you’d have to say that the visitors were the better side here. They dominated the middle of the park in the first half and were able to provide more regular service to their front four than Carew, who are understandably still adapting to a new system.
Madigan and Heffernan pressed and harried relentlessly, which unsettled Carew new boy, Ross McCarthy, forcing management to pair Dillon with the equally energetic Frahill after thirty minutes. This redressed the balance for Carew somewhat, preventing the likes of Roche and Daffy from getting as much ball to feet. The former’s touch let him down at times today, but the latter was sensational – tormenting Gary Griffin time and again down the left flank. Nathan O’Callaghan had a limited influence on the other flank however, which might open the door for Brian Murphy, who looked lively in his cameo appearance.
The ability to introduce players like Murphy, Quinn and Tier off the bench demonstrated the strength in depth of this new-look Fairview squad. It’s easy to see therefore, why they’re being tipped in some quarters to clinch the title this season. Time will tell. There were certainly no real negatives here, apart maybe from the standard of the finishing in the first half. Although new stopper Walsh was lobbed, he also pulled off a fantastic second half save to deny what looked like a certain Grant goal.
As for Carew, there were certainly positives to be taken here from the first competitive game under a new system. Jonathan Grant looks completely revitalised for one and unsurprisingly shows a natural aptitude for the ten role. New goalkeeper Brian Collopy also made some fine saves, cowing his View opponents with his speed and posture when faced with one-on-one situations. The right-back position did look a problem however – ex-Caherconlish man David Corbett waits in the wings – as did the lack of width in attacking areas. Carew certainly looked better balanced after the introductions of Somers and Power on either flank. There are early question marks too about the ability of McCarthy to play as one of a two in a 4-2-3-1 – Carew immediately competed better when Frahill was inserted into the fray alongside the ever-reliable Dillon.
Next up for me is Thursday’s clash between champions Janesboro and Aisling Annacotty, with the former flying after today’s 7-2 home thrashing of Moyross and the latter looking to pick up their first point after a narrow 2-1 defeat away to Pike Rovers this morning. Join me then for more early-season Premier analysis.
Limerick District League 