Regional United will lead the Premier League standings at the turn of the year, thanks to this morning’s 8-0 home victory over Ballynanty Rovers – Regional’s second consecutive triumph by that margin.
The continually dreadful conditions ensured that this was the only Premier League fixture that survived this weekend’s latest raft of cancellations. Few present at Regional’s brand-spanking new all-weather pitch in Dooradoyle this morning would have expected it to be so one-sided.
Ballynanty, who were without regular goalkeeper Stephen McNamara, found themselves on the back foot after only three minutes of play. Stand-in, Brian Fitzgerald, became the latest Limerick junior footballer to be out-jumped by Kieran O’Connell, who turned in a cross from the right-wing.
Fitzgerald was in more bother minutes later, when he spilled Peter Ryan’s long-range free-kick – only to recover and save well from Shane O’Doherty’s subsequent point-blank effort on the rebound.
Ballynanty hit back immediately with their only real clear-cut chance of the morning – Robert Brock capitalising on a rare Brian O’Callaghan error to advance on Rob Shier’s goal and hit the foot of the far post with a powerful left-footed drive.
And then the floodgates opened. Regional created another goal from the right-wing in the 12th minute, when right-back Ian Hughes was allowed the freedom to deliver a pinpoint cross from deep to the bafflingly unmarked Garbhan Coughlan. Coughlan’s first touch and acrobatic finish were worth the price of admission.
Ballynanty looked bereft of organisation, with massive gaps between the lines for Regional to take advantage of with long-range potshots and through-ball attempts. This brokenness also meant that the visitors had very few passing options on when they won the ball back. As such, the returning David Dunphy was forced to attempt a large number of hopeful long passes that gave possession straight back to Regional, allowing them to continually up the pressure ante.
By the time Mike Kiely’s half-time whistle sounded, Rovers were six down. And deservedly so. The third – O’Connell’s second – arrived via a near-post header from a Ken Nealon corner. The fourth goal, inflicted by Peter Ryan on the half-hour mark, was particularly damning.
Coughlan dropped deep into his own half and delivered a long punt in the direction of the left-hand side of the Ballynanty area. Kieran O’Connell was allowed to take it down, control and lay it off to Ryan, under absolutely no pressure. Fitzgerald could do nothing about the Regional striker’s accurate sidefooted finish.
Three minutes later, it was five – Ken Nealon allowed the freedom of Dooradoyle to collect a Peter Ryan cross and slam home off his left-peg from the edge of the area. Dreadful defending.
Coughlan struck again to complete the first-half half-dozen, with a curving finish off the outside of his right boot, after some good interplay with striker partner Ryan.
Ballynanty improved a little bit in the opening ten minutes of the second half. But, once they introduced a second striker – in the shape of Lloyd Whyte – the momentum again turned in Regional’s favour.
Two further goals accrued to the rampant hosts before close of play. First, susbtitute Declan Nash produced a great out-to-in run off the left flank to get on the end of Mikey Lyons’ through ball and finish. And then, with fifteen minutes to go, another replacement – Tommy Frawley – played in Kieran O’Connell on the right-edge of the area. O’Connell’s initial attempt at a pullback was blocked by Danny McInerney, but the Regional midfielder followed up to secure his hat-trick with an emphatic left-footed finish.
Garbhan Coughlan was unlucky not a bag a treble of his own right at the death – beating two Ballynanty defenders easily, only to strike the foot of the post from the edge of the area. I’m sure he won’t mind too much. The Regional striker leads the top scorers chart at Christmas with 16 goals in only 10 league games – three ahead of teenage sensation, Keith Mawdsley.
A dreadful outing for Ballynanty Rovers then, whose solid early-season defensive record has been marred by shipping a whopping 12 goals in the last two league games. This will represent a big worry for management, who were already faced with a big conundrum at the other end of the pitch – the northsiders have only managed a paltry 15 goals in their first 11 league games this season.
Bearing that in mind, it was a little strange to see Kevin Barry left on the bench today, given his recent scoring exploits against lower-league opposition in the cups. Barry’s strength and ability to hold up the ball may have allowed Ballynanty to function a bit better as an attacking unit this morning, despite their lack of compactness.
It’s difficult to read too much into Regional’s title credentials on the basis of this encounter, given the ease with which they secured the victory. What we do know however, is that this team has a very solid defence – with only 13 goals conceded in the league to date. And with 16 goals notched in the last two games and the league’s most dangerous attacking player topping the goalscoring charts, who knows where the ceiling is for this team. They’ll surely be kicking themselves now that Coughlan missed September’s crucial defeat away to Pike Rovers.
Their three-point Xmas lead may be tempered somewhat by the potential of Pike, Carew and Janesboro to overhaul them by winning their games-in-hand. But, if they can hold on to Coughlan, there’s every possibility that Regional can win by a head (pun fully intended) at the finish.
Scorers
O’Connell 4′, 22′, 75′, Coughlan 12′, 44′, Ryan 32′, Nealon 35′, Nash 65′
Limerick District League 