St Peter’s maintain perfect league start

CCFl Senior Division

St Peter's 4, Ballinahown FC 2

Report: John Dingle

The perfect start to the season was continued by St Peter's when they got the better of Ballinahown FC at McCarthy Park last Sunday afternoon. Peter's looked in control when they raced into a two-goal lead but the visitors pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time. The two goal advantage was soon restored when play resumed but once more Ballinahown reduced the deficit to the bare minimum. With the outcome still in the balance, Peter's made sure of the points when Johnny Kiernan completed the scoring midway through the second half.

Mark McConnell’s men had won their three opening league games but Ballinahown had also got the campaign off to a decent start and a win would have seen them leapfrog into second spot.

Adding extra spice to the encounter was the fact that a number of players on both sides were facing former team mates.

The visitors earned the first corner kick of the contest but were soon in early arrears from the Peter's first attack. There was just 6 minutes gone when Clive Harris found the net from close range. The lead could have been doubled five minutes later but the woodwork rescued the visitors when Nenad Lazic fired a shot off the upright. Another corner fell Ballinahown's way moments later as the Blues looked to get back on level terms.

A further chance however to increase the lead fell to Peter’s way but Rytis Liaukevicius pulled off a good save to deny Luke Kelly after Harris had created the opening.

Jordan Carr then fired wide but the next chance after 24 minutes could have led to the equaliser only for a fine save from Declan McManus.

Donagh Prendergast delivered a cross from the left which was met by the head of Terry Byrne but the Peter's stand-in keeper pushed the ball behind for a corner.

Peter's took advantage of that reprieve to double their advantage after 38 minutes. Kiernan initially had a shot from the right pushed away but the danger remained as the hosts kept the attack going.

Carr sent in a low cross from the left and Harris came in for his second goal of the game. The one hundred percent Peter's record looked more secure but there was late drama in the half. Two more corners were earned by the visitors and, from the second on the stroke of half time, the lead was reduced. Kevin Lawless delivered from the corner and Paul McManus got a vital touch home in a crowded goalmouth. It gave Ballinahown some hope for the second half.

However, their hopes were soon shattered when the Peter's restored their two goal advantage just three minutes into the second half. Ballinahown were exposed at the back and Gary Kelly took full advantage as he raced onto a long ball forward to find the net.

The visitors were asked again to respond positively and they did with a second goal after 54 minutes. Lawless sent in a cross from the right and Westmeath GAA star Shane Allen showed he is equally as proficient in the eleven a side game when finding the net.

Ballinahown were now in pursuit of an equaliser and as the home team retreated into defensive mode, Allen came close soon after scoring to levelling matters.

Peter's though regrouped and completed the scoring with a fourth goal after 66 minutes. Ballinahown were again exposed in defence as Kiernan beat the offside trap and show cool finishing after rounding the keeper. Home substitute Lee Scanlon had the next chance but fired wide of the target.

Ballinahown tried once more to reduce the deficit but a corner and a Michael Monaghan shot which flew over posed little threat. Scanlon was again off target as the half progressed. Another corner in the penultimate minute ended the Ballinahown challenge. Peter's could have made it five on the stroke of full time but Kiernan’s free kick, which took a deflection, was pushed behind by the keeper. Ballinahown's frustration boiled over in stoppage time when McManus saw red but it mattered little as the points had been secured at this stage by Peter's.

It sets the Boys in Green up nicely for their next outing which sees them take on local rivals Willow Park at DPD Park with the two 100 per cent records in the top flight at stake under the floodlights.

ST PETER'S: Declan McManus, Sean Cloherty, Adam Dowling, Stephen Barr, Scott Delaney, Luke Kelly, Jordan Carr, Clive Harris, Gary Kelly, Johnny Kiernan, Nenad Lazic.

Subs: Lee Scanlon for Carr (67 mins); Mark Hewitt and Jordan Hegarty for Dowling and G Kelly (80); Mickey Brown for L Kelly (87).

BALLINAHOWN: Rytis Liaukevicius, Nema Bozic, Mark Egan, Alex Hall, Kieran Colclough, Shane Allen, Luke Kelly, Paul McManus, Terry Byrne, Donagh Prendergast, Kevin Lawless.

Subs: Michael Monaghan for Prendergast (36); Calvin Fox for Bozic (41); Cillian Lynn for Kelly (47); TJ McFadden for Lawless (90).

REFEREE: Paul Malone (Offaly)