Richardson hits the winner as Skyvalley shock Moore

Skyvalley Rovers 1 Moore United 0

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Skyvalley Rovers pulled off a shock win against Premier Division title contenders Moore United in the Joe’s Bar RDFL Challenge Cup at Onagh Park, Taughmaconnell last Friday night.

Moore came into this game in good form as they have been towards the top of the Premier Division in recent weeks and they were favourites to beat the hosts. Skyvalley, a First Division side, had a couple of very impressive cup wins recently and something would have to give in this knockout cup tie.

The visitors started the brighter, they were expressing themselves and showing why they were favourites. Jay McPhilbin was spraying passes around, putting the ball in behind the Skyvalley defence numerous times. Charles Nevin and Josh Lennon had opportunities, but young Skyvalley goalie Donnacha Monaghan pulled off crucial saves.

Moore dominated the first 20 minutes and it looked like a matter of when rather than if they would find the breakthrough and the opening goal. Then the game turned on its head.

After a chip by David Grehan (Skyvalley’s all-time top scorer) over advancing Moore keeper Evan Kelly was bobbling towards the empty goal, Danny Lynch was the first to react and was about to finish the ball over the line when he was tripped. But for some reason the referee gave Moore a free out. This decision seemed to annoy the hosts and, from that moment to the final whistle Skyvalley were the more dominant team.

Blistering shots from John Feehily, Mark Richardson and David Grehan all whizzed past the Moore goalposts. They gradually took over possession of the ball and they saw out the first half, happy to be scoreless at half-time and very much in the game.

In the second half, Moore again had a short period of dominance but Skyvalley, perhaps still stung by the unjust penalty decision that they didn’t get in the first half, took over again and dominated possession.

This game had plenty of intensity, aggression and tough tackling, typical of a local rivalry. But what was not typical was that the game was mostly dominated by the lower division side Skyvalley. Almost all the action was inside the Moore half of the field, but attempts on goal were mostly shots from outside the box, with many of them blocked.

In the last quarter, extra-time was beckoning and maybe even the dreaded penalties. Neither side had looked capable of finishing the chances that were being created. Maybe Moore would strike for a a goal against the run of play, or maybe one of the many opportunities would be put away by Skyvalley? In any case, the game badly needed a goal.

Skyvalley started to get close, they had forced a number of corners and long kickouts from defender Eoin Keogh were causing the Moore defence and keeper some tense moments.

Then a long Keogh kickout went over everyone’s head, including Moore keeper Kelly, and Rovers striker Richardson finished into the net to give his side a deserved lead.

Skyvalley held out for a win that will surely give them huge confidence in both the league and cup competitions. For Moore, they will have plenty of opportunities to bounce back to winning ways.

Player of the match: Donnacha Monaghan (Skyvalley Rovers). Mark Richardson was consistently threatening and he scored the only goal of the game. Gary Canavan was the enforcer at midfield and Eoin Keogh was solid at the back, but youngster Monaghan brought off some crucial saves in the early stages of the game when Moore was on top. Those saves and the penalty that wasn’t given were crucial in turning the game in Skyvalley’s favour. Rian Carpenter, Jay McPhilbin and Charles Nevin all showed the way for Moore.

Skyvalley Rovers: Donnacha Monaghan, Brian Croffey, Eoin Keogh, Richie Browne, David Daly, Gary Canavan, John Feehily, Danny Lynch, David Grehan, Mark Richardson, Emmett Kelly. Sub used: John Moore for Grehan (76).

Moore United: Evan Kelly, Eoin McManus, Brian Sheeran, James Byrne, Rian Carpenter, Charlie Killeen, Eoin O’Connor, Jay McPhilbin, Andrew Nevin, Josh Lennon, Charles Nevin. Sub used: Emmet Kenny for A Nevin (74).

Referee: James Murray.