A Cian Collins opener, inside two minutes, set the scene for what was a very comfortable passage into the third round of the Munster Junior Cup for Pike Rovers.
First half
Geraldines never really laid a glove on Pike after that early concession – when John Connery’s low cross from the byline was turned in by a sliding Cian Collins in the six-yard box.
From that point on, as they hunted in vain for the equalising goal, the ‘Dines made it very easy indeed for their visitors. Christy O’Neill was tasked with the holding role today, with Keith O’Connor forced to deputise at the back for the unavailable Pa McGarry. While Christy may not be the first choice of many to play in that position, he was hardly culpable for the chasms of space that the ‘Dines midfield was leaving to his left and right – allowing Pike to easily pick up the second balls and play them behind the ‘Dines full-backs.
Cross after cross rained in on the ‘Dines defence, particularly from the left, where Danny O’Neill was struggling up against Eoin Hanrahan. O’Connor, O’Grady and Nyong were equal to them for the most part, but it was no surprise when one of many corners from Paddy O’Malley – who had a strong showing at left-back today – resulted in a Wayne Colbert header at the near post to double Pike’s advantage.
Moments after their second, Pike could and should have been three up. John Connery recovered the ball in acres of space in a right-of centre area again, before feeding strike partner Collins down the inside-right. Collins looked a mile offside but, although the flag stayed down, the Pike striker dragged his effort wide when one-on-one with Nyong.
Second half
The Geraldines management abandoned their 4-1-4-1 formation at half-time. As they had done when three down against Moyross in the FAI a couple of weeks ago, they switched instead to a 4-4-2. Derek Hannon, who was completely isolated in the first half, was unlucky not to get the chance to renew that morning’s impactful partnership with James Cleary. Instead, he was substituted in favour of Ian O’Donoghue, with the disappointing Stephen Keeley asked to partner Cleary up top.
Keeley, who had fallen victim to a first-half substitution against Croom just a week after a man of the match performance in Moyross, had his day summed up earlier when the game’s standout performer, Stephen McGann, muscled the towering midfielder off the ball without flinching in the first-half. McGann continued to make his mark in the second – benefiting from a complete lack of pressure from O’Neill to unleash a left-footed missile into the top corner from range.
Although three up, Pike continued to press aggressively from the front when out of possession – as instructed from the sideline. The Hoops were obviously keen to atone for their abject showing against Fairview last week, and their industry certainly paid off on the hour mark – Danny O’Neill capping an uncharacteristically poor display by having his pocket picked by Connery. The Pike striker immediately laid it off to Collins, who rounded Nyong and doubled his personal tally for the morning. O’Neill was hauled off five minutes later, to be replaced by Dean Earls – who had not been cleared to start this morning, due to injury,
And then, despite his side being four up and enjoying an individually dominant performance, McGann let himself down. I’ve hinted at his aggression being a negative at times on these pages in the past – here, just two minutes after the fourth, he reacted angrily to contact from behind from Eddie Lee, resulting in a yellow card for both parties, and for the interfering Keith O’Connor, from referee Donal Power. Manager, Mike Sheil, understandably immediately substituted his midfielder – mindful, of course, of incurring any unnecessary suspensions.
Colin Daly was introduced in his stead and he very nearly made it five soon after – just missing a Shane Walsh cross at the far post on the stretch.
From there, the last quarter of the game was a complete procession for Pike, especially after the ‘Dines were reduced to nine thanks to injuries to James Cleary and Dean Earls – the only matters of interest being a hat-trick of strong saves from Nyong to keep the score down, with Hanrahan going close twice, and Daly once, from range. Substitute, Reece Healy, also missed a glorious chance to make it five, skying it over the bar after being played through by Connery.
Conclusion
A fully deserved rout for Pike here, who never looked in danger of being pegged back after their early opener. Geraldines appeared to lose a small bit of composure after this early blow, and the organisational qualities that were so evident in the first six weeks of the season evaporated. The home side allowed too much space in front of their defence either side of Christy O’Neill, with the returning Keith Hartnett and, particularly, the inconsistent Stephen Keeley, not doing enough to form that barrier we saw against the likes of Regional and Janesboro here in Garryowen Green.
Compounding their problems was some poor possession play from the back four, with good Pike pressure forcing the ‘Dines to go long in vain, down the right to Eddie Lee or up top to the isolated Derek Hannon.
Pike enjoyed strong performances all through the team, without ever really having to leave second gear. Midfielder, Paddy O’Malley, looked good at left-back, while recent capture from Carew, John Connery, worked hard and created plenty of chances for his composed strike partner, Cian Collins. However, the man of the match accolade, despite his ill-advised second-half rush of blood to the head, goes to the combative Stephen McGann.
Scorers
Collins 2′, 61′, Colbert 36′, McGann 52′
Man of the Match
Stephen McGann
Limerick District League 