Fairview took a measure of revenge for the hammerings meted out by the auld enemy during their recent barren period tonight – by slamming six goals past a depleted and error-strewn Pike Rovers.
First half
Football – it’s a funny old game, as Greavesie used to say. This time two years ago, during Mick Sheil’s last stint at the Pike helm, the Hoops were on their way to securing a 13-0 aggregate victory over Fairview in the league. An abject 8-0 hammering at Crossagalla on the first day of the season was followed up by an equally pathetic 5-0 home reverse in November, as the Hoops romped comfortably to the title – while Fairview tarried behind in the table’s lower reaches.
That was then and this is now. The Fairview team that trotted on to the Jackman turf this evening was completely unrecognisable from that which fell on its sword five times a little under two years ago. Only centre-back, John Mullane – a recent returnee to the side – survives in the starting line-up. Shane Power, who started in a wide role on that fateful day that led to Dermot Finnan’s second departure, also remains in the mix – but was limited today to a substitute appearance.
Along with new manager, Paul O’Donnell, a host of new playing talent has arrived in the doors – from the city, county and further afield. And tonight – despite missing their starting midfield pairing of Craig Madigan and Colm Heffernan – they clicked, laying waste to an admittedly makeshift Pike Rovers side.
Both Pike’s starting number ten and striker, Colin Daly and Eoin Hanrahan, were serving the first of three suspended games tonight, by dint of their red cards against Carew two weeks ago, while midfielder Stephen McGann was also serving one for accumulating four bookings. Captain, Wayne Colbert, was away, while talismanic centre-back, Pa Mullins remains absent due to injury.
As such, with only one sub available – the striker, Jamie Kelly – Pike were forced into making a very attack-minded selection. It was no surprise therefore that the side was very loose from back to front and easy to play through. Although it looked as if the side was fielded in a 4-4-1-1, Pike’s shape often looked like a 4-2-4 – even when out of possession.
It seemed likely that the talented Fairview number ten, Paudie Quinn, would find space in behind O’Malley and Ryan – and so it proved. With twenty-five gone, Quinn ghosted into the box untracked to receive a pass from the right, before sliding it across the face for George Daffy to notch his first of the night at the far post.
Pike were therefore left to rue squandering tonight’s first big chance – when Davy Ryan was allowed space on the edge of the area to play John Connery through down the inside-right. Connery’s effort was weak and straight at Walsh. More frustration was to follow moments later, after Connery got on the end of a speculative hook over the top from Eddie Brazier. Bobby Tier had left too much space between he and his centre-back and was forced to foul the Pike striker on the edge of the box to compensate. The Pike faithful screamed for a red, but referee Brian Higgins correctly identified the existence of Danaher on the cover and produced a yellow.
After their opener however, Fairview were the only team in this contest and, at times, played some marvellous football. Central to this was left-full, Jonathan Hannafin – one of my players to watch from August’s season preview. Hannafin reprised his starring turn in Tralee’s Munster Junior victory over Janesboro last season, turning in one of the most complete full-back performances you’re ever likely to see at this level. He bombed up and down the left flank like a madman, quite frankly – while also keeping the shackles firmly on his man, Cian Collins (who scored, ironically, in the aforementioned 5-0 humiliation!).
Great interplay from the left-back and Daffy, just moments after the goal, could have produced a second. Hannafin’s cross on the overlap was just missed by the unmarked Colin Scanlon, 12 yards out.
When the second did come, it was Hannafin again who instigated the move – with a lung-busting counter-attacking run that led to a one-two with Scanlon and another good cross. Eddie O’Donovan made a poor attempt at a headed clearance, causing the ball to fall at the feet of Scanlon, who showed great composure to slot it into the corner.
And right before the break, the ‘View all but wrapped it up. Scanlon bested Jason Mullins in an aerial challenge off a goal-kick, with Daffy doing well to anticipate the second ball and get in down the left. His cross looked like goalkeeper Gary Neville’s ball all the way. Instead, the normally ultra-reliable Neville remained on his line, allowing Paudie Quinn to nod home!
Second half
Fairview quickly resumed where they had left off at the end of the first period – as did the calamitous Pike defence. Eoin Roche sent Scanlon running down the right with a ball over the top. The Fairview striker’s resulting cross was bizarrely spilled by Neville, allowing Daffy to turn it in for his brace.
Pike went 4-4-2 by bringing on their solitary sub, Jamie Kelly, for the injured Sean O’Callaghan, but that didn’t change the momentum of the game one bit. Pike remained wide open – as was demonstrated when Jonathan Hannafin waltzed through the centre of them, one-twoed with Scanlon, before producing a save from the legs of Neville. Seconds later, AJ O’Connor, formerly of Newcastle West Rovers, also strolled through the opposition’s centre as the Pike midfield walked back into position. He fed Scanlon on the left, whose cross was headed onto the bar by Eoin Roche from the byline! Pike were absolutely reeling. The fifth was coming.
And come it did. As did the sixth. But they were both gifts – one from each O’Donovan. Wayne, now filling in at centre-back, undercooked a pass across the face of his defence, allowing Daffy to pounce for his hat-trick. And Eddie left the ball under his feet, fifteen minutes from time, allowing substitute Dylan Murphy to pick his pocket and feed Scanlon – who lifted it over Neville for his second of the night. A deserved brace for the Fairview striker, who looked fit and extremely committed this evening.
Pike got a consolation at the death, for what it’s worth. A Wayne O’Donovan free-kick was headed back at the far post by an unmarked Paddy O’Malley, with Jamie Kelly applying the finish.
Conclusion
A richly deserved rout for Fairview who, despite missing their first choice midfield pairing, took full advantage of an extraordinarily open Pike Rovers side.
Although Pike were indeed missing almost half their starting line-up, there is no excuse for the lax defensive shape that was on show tonight – something that has never been a hallmark of Mick Sheil’s Pike teams since he first arrived in Limerick two years ago. Nor is there any excuse for the type of defensive clangers that caused the score to run up – five of the six Fairview goals were attributable to such individual errors.
Speaking of excuses, I engaged in a confrontation this evening surrounding the disrespect with which my recent LDMC sponsorship proposal was treated. No admission of wrongdoing was forthcoming, nor was any explanation as to why my ideas were not given the formal airing they, at the very least, deserved. The individual in question is apparently more concerned with discovering the identity of the council member who betrayed the truth to me – that my proposal was not discussed at any council meeting – than he is about considering his own role in this affair.
I would pose the question – why was this proposal buried so emphatically? Everyone I speak to tells me it was a no-brainer, in terms of promoting the Limerick game and giving it the honest coverage it deserves. It seems strange to me that the money was there for other journalistic projects, of more dubious merit, in the past. It also seems extremely strange to me that the rejection of my proposal coincided with communication enhancements elsewhere. But, of course, I’m assured that that one is merely complete happenstance. Very curious isn’t it? You would think that people who are supposed to be interested in the profile of the game would jump at what I was offering, wouldn’t you?
While that might be curious, it’s even more of a headscratcher that this game went ahead tonight at all. We all know that Moyross/Janesboro was first out of the hat that Tuesday evening. Even odder still is the insistence on apparently getting the season finished by Xmas, despite vehement club protests over the ridiculous early-season fixture backlog.
But look, we all know the bottom line on that. The LDMC autocracy is run at the whim of its dictator, not for the benefit of the clubs or the local game as a whole. And the eleven other nodding dogs aren’t going to change that. Are you?
Scorers
Daffy 27′, 48′, 64′, Scanlon 34′, 74′, Quinn 44′; Kelly 86′
Man of the Match
Jonathan Hannafin
Limerick District League 