A rare error from Ballynanty goalkeeper, Stephen McNamara, right at the death, leveled up an evenly contested affair between two very young sides in Annacotty this morning.
First half
The visitors started strongly and, on the basis of the opening ten minutes, looked likely to run out comfortable winners. An early fumble by Sean Fitzpatrick, as he rose to collect a Des Fitzgerald free kick from the left, allowed Ryan Earls the chance to put his side ahead. Luckily for Aisling, Jamie Shinners was alive to clear Earls’ effort off the line.
It was apparent from very early on that Aisling’s defensive shape was poor, with Balla often enjoying oceans of the space in between the lines to deliver crosses from deep and take pot shots at Sean Fitzpatrick. The phrase “two banks of four” was not applicable here, with Mike Fitzgerald often stranded alone in front of his backline at defensive transitions.
Ballynanty looked to take full advantage of this, raining in shots on the young Aisling stopper, who, along with the two Mawdsleys, was one of three former Herbertstown minors in the side today. Eventually they punished their hosts – Derek Daly getting tons of time to swing in a cross from the left, which found the head of Lloyd Whyte in between the two Aisling centre-halves.
Ballynanty weren’t ahead for long, however. A wonderful solo run and finish from midfielder, Niall Hanley – low into the bottom corner with his left from outside the area – quickly brought the scores level. That’s two goalscoring games in a row for the former UCD man, who featured well today, before tiring noticeably in the second half.
Hanley’s strike unsurprisingly gave his side a pep in their step and the remainder of the half was a pretty tit-for-tat affair. Both sides came close to nosing in front before referee, Donal Power, blew the half-time whistle. Substitute, Eddie Radcliffe, introduced in place of the injured Des Fitzgerald, saw his right-wing cross deflected off the crossbar by the dangled leg of Jamie Shinners. And, down the other end, a rare successful foray in wide areas for Aisling, stemming from an Evan O’Neill inspired overload on the left, resulted in a nice inswinging cross from the Aisling wideman. Alas for Aisling, Conor Burke couldn’t quite make an adequate connection on it. Great chance.
However, despite coming into the contest after the equaliser, Aisling were still looking very vulnerable indeed in front of their defence. The fact that Derek Daly had time to heavily miscontrol and still set himself for a long-ranger right on the whistle spoke volumes.
Second half
It’s probably glaring that I haven’t mentioned Aisling’s in-form hitman, Keith Mawdsley, yet. The teenage goalscoring sensation, who was looking to score in his seventh consecutive league game this morning, was well marshaled by the Balla defence today, with Ryan Earls particularly to the fore. Mawdsley did get a half-chance early in the second half however, when Conor Burke, now operating from the left, beat Gary Moore on the byline. Mawdsley couldn’t quite put his left boot through it on the edge of the area though, allowing “Fish” to collect comfortably in the Balla goal.
The visitors were again comfortably on top in the early part of the second half, with more long range efforts and crosses from deep raining in. Eddie Radcliffe must have been frustrated to see one such deep cross, delivered low into the corridor of uncertainty, passed up by his sleeping teammates.
Aisling again took action to change the momentum of the game, this time through the introduction of exciting winger, Paddy Fitzgerald, on the left flank. Fitzgerald immediately had the visitors on the back foot, who were forced to shift reliable midfielder, Ronan Ryan, to right back, with the experienced Brian Doran brought into the fray in the middle of the park.
Fitzgerald was presented with arguably the chance of the game soon after his arrival. Keegan Park, who appeared to be operating as the ten in a 4-4-1-1 in this half, fed the winger with a brilliant through-ball down the inside-left. Fitzgerald opened his body and shot with the right, but pulled it wide of McNamara’s far post.
Moments later, Fitzgerald won a free kick on the left with his trickery. Keegan Park delivered again, only to see Jamie Shinners flick his free header wide.
The visitors looked to change it again in response to this momentum shift, introducing Robert Brock in a straight swap for Daly. Brock was only on the pitch a matter of moments when his striker, Lloyd Whyte, was dismissed for a second bookable offence – forcing him to switch to the left side in a 4-4-1. Andrew Leyden was tasked with the lone striker role.
This change didn’t bother Brocky, however. He immediately got on the ball and drove into a number ten position, before finally punishing Aisling for their lax defensive shape with a stunning left-footed missile into the top corner!
But Aisling weren’t beaten yet. Yet another minor graduate, Jack Barry, was introduced as part of a back three, with Paddy Fitzgerald pushed up alongside Mawdsley in a 3-5-2. Aisling didn’t look any more threatening in this configuration, but it was Fitzgerald who would get them the goal they needed, nonetheless – with more than a touch of good fortune attached.
Fitzgerald received the ball from Jon Somers in a left-of-centre area outside the box, before shifting it onto his right and unleashing an underpowered roller towards the Balla goal (think Romeo Sensini in Fr. Ted). However, to the amazement of all present, Stephen McNamara allowed that roller under his body when diving to make the routine save. A very rare clanger from one of the league’s strongest goalkeepers – but I’m sure Fitzgerald didn’t mind! Despite the circumstances, he deserved a goal today, such was the impact his cameo had on proceedings. Disappointing however, to see his strike partner booked for apparently taunting the visiting ‘keeper in the aftermath.
Conclusion
A draw was probably the fair result here, despite the unfortunate manner of the equaliser from the away side’s perspective. Although Ballynanty were comfortably the better organised side, the game was relatively even from a chance-creation perspective, with the home side arguably creating the best two opportunities – Burke’s in the first half and, certainly, Fitzgerald’s in the second.
Aisling will have to sort out their defensive shape if they are going to stop conceding so many goals, however. Their back four did well enough today, with Brian Butler looking particularly composed at right-back, but the midfield was an absolute disaster at defensive transitions and it’s a surprise that Ballynanty didn’t punish them further for it. Although, we should be mindful that they were missing the Moyross-bound, Alex Purcell, today, in addition to the physical presence of Derek Hanlon up top.
Credit to them for how they shut down young Keith Mawdsley though, whose amazing scoring run comes to an end at six games. Eight goals in the first six at this level is a remarkable record for an 18 year old, nonetheless. However, Mawdsley has lost his position at the head of the golden boot race as of this morning, courtesy of Mark McGrath’s hat-trick against Mungret Regional – bringing the Carew striker’s tally to nine goals in his first six, since his return from St. Michaels. With the perennial top marksman, Shane Clarke, also off to a good start, despite his early season dissent-related suspension, that race could be just as interesting as any this season.
Scorers
Hanley, P. Fitzgerald; Whyte, R. Brock
Man of the Match
Ryan Earls
Limerick District League 