Fairview Rangers sit atop the Premier League table after consigning rivals Pike Rovers to their second defeat of the season, courtesy of second half goals from Bobby Tier and Colin Scanlon.
The first half was a close-fought affair of few chances. Spectators had to wait until the fifteenth minute for the day’s first shot on target, when the lively Cian Collins got in off a John Connery through ball, only to see his underpowered left-footed effort saved by Andrew Walsh.
Although Collins was causing problems with his anticipation and movement off the ball, it was Fairview who looked the likelier, particularly down Pike’s left flank. Midfielder turned left-back, Paddy O’Malley, was struggling to cope with the home threat down that side – particularly that of winger Brian Murphy – and was eventually booked for an accumulation of rash challenges midway through the half.
One of several corners won down that flank almost bore fruit towards the end of the half, when Craig Madigan’s corner was flicked on by the head of Paudie Quinn, only to be blocked at the back stick by a Pike defender. Seconds later, Pike failed to clear another Madigan cross. The ball eventually dropped at the feet of John Mullane, who was foiled by another last-ditch block from six yards.
Despite the hosts seemingly having the edge, Pike managed to fashion the only clear-cut chance of the half right at the death. Cian Collins popped up on the right-wing, producing a great back-post cross for the unmarked Garry Higgins to convert. Wide.
The second half saw the game take on a completely different complexion as Fairview blitzed their old rivals in the opening quarter-hour and could easily have found themselves four or five goals to the good. Either Paul O’Donnell got his half-time team talk very right or Mick Sheil got his very, very wrong. Or both.
Pike’s left-wing problems finally did for them in the fifth minute. Garry Higgins, who hadn’t lent much support to O’Malley in the first half, failed to track Bobby Tier, allowing the ‘View right-full to pop up at the back post and fire home the second ball off a speculative lob from Brian Murphy.
Murphy was now in the ten role, as part of a Fairview half-time reshuffle that saw them look far, far more incisive in the final third. Colin Scanlon, whose touch had eluded him at times in the first half, moved out right, with Quinn now the number nine.
It was Quinn who played in Murphy for Fairview’s second clear-cut chance, just two minutes after the opener. The Kerryman struck wide off his weaker left foot.
The Pike defence continued to leak chances. A magnificent reflex save from Gary Neville just kept out a deflected George Daffy strike from range. Paudie Quinn also spurned two great opportunities in quick succession, wasting a free header off a Madigan cross, and forcing a Neville save from just inside the area after Tier once again got in down the right.
Sheil took the necessary action. Higgins was removed in favour of Eddie O’Donovan in a straight swap. Given how functional Pike looked in the middle of the park, with the defensive pairing of McGann and Jason Mullins, one wonders why Eddie didn’t get the start at left-full, allowing Paddy O’Malley to play his natural game in the centre.
Alas for Pike, this change was for nought as they were soon punished down the other flank to complete Fairview’s fifteen- minute rout and double their lead. Daffy played in Murphy down the left, who crossed for Scanlon to finish at the back post.
Pike went 4-4-2 by switching Connery up top with Collins and moving Shane Walsh to the right. Later, they even went with three strikers, introducing Davy Ryan in place of O’Malley. Neither change shifted the momentum. The type of comeback that Pike completed in the 4-3 win here last season was never on the cards.
In fact, it was Fairview who continued to look the likelier side, with substitute Dylan Murphy wasting two glorious headed chances late on – both created by that man, Brian Murphy.
There was even time for Jonathan Hannafin to pop up in the box in injury-time and force a point-blank save from Neville, off Colm Heffernan’s through ball.
Pike must now regroup, after a second comprehensive defeat at the hands of their old rivals in the space of two months. Although they were missing key personnel today, with Hanrahan and Daly still serving suspensions, there is no excuse for that second half performance. Only Collins and the excellent Wayne Colbert emerged with any credit from the Pike cohort on display today.
Fairview now find themselves on top of the pile, albeit with Carew, Janesboro and Pike possessing games in hand to potentially overhaul them. This was a deeply impressive statement of intent this morning, with the leadership of Colm Heffernan in the middle of the park and the assured defending of AJ O’Connor particularly vital in making it happen.
However, owing to the number of chances he created today – including the assists for both goals – Brian Murphy earns the man of the match award, for representing a consistent threat to the Pike defence.
Scorers
Tier 50′, Scanlon 58′
Man of the Match
Brian Murphy
Limerick District League 