Knockbride see off Lavey in ACFL

ACFL

Knockbride 2-8

Lavey 1-9

Having had a bye in round one, Knockbride opened their league campaign for 2021 with a home win in a closely-fought encounter with Lavey.

The visitors had to play without county stars Gerard Smith and Chris Conroy, while Knockbride were deprived of the services of ex-county minors Jordan McCabe and Philip Nulty through injury.

Misty rain fell on St Brigid’s Park, though the ground remained hard, and both teams served up entertaining fare over the course of the 60-plus minutes.

Knockbride were fast out of the blocks with two points on the board within two minutes, Patrick Smith and Roy Donohoe the providers.

Ray Cullivan soon cut the deficit to one with Lavey’s opening point.

Aided by the breeze, Knockbride kept up the pressure but three frees went wide for them before youngster Liam Fay calmly shot to the net following a long pass from Shane Carolan, who had an excellent game.

Following the first water break, Peter Smith pointed a 45 for Lavey but soon the hosts stretched their lead, DJ Cassidy pointing well from the left wing and Seanie Burns also pointing from play.

Howwever, over 25 minutes of play were to elapse before Knockbride scored again, though they had a goal disallowed before half-time, the referee adjudging there to have been a square ball offence.

Lavey, meanwhile, had two more first-half points – a Peter Smith free and a point from play from defender Philip Smith on the stroke of half-time to leave the interval score Knockbride 1-5 Lavey 0-4.

Wind and rain increased in intensity early in the second half – and so did Lavey’s performance. At this point, they introduced Shane Tierney and Paul Gilchreest to the fray but it was Cullivan who got their first two points of the half, from play in the second minute and from a free five minutes later.

By the 18th minute, Lavey were level, a Peter Smith free and an attacking mark from Shane Tierney.

Just before the second water break, Donohoe pointed a free to restore Knockbride’s advantage.

Soon after, Lavey looked to have struck the match-winner when a good move ended with Emmett Brady blasting to the net.

But Knockbride, showing lots of heart, surged forward five minutes later and Fay’s pass found the in-rushing Ben Mulvey whose impressive finish to the net matched anything that Euro 2020 has had to offer.

With their tails up, another Knockbride attack ended in Mulvey pointing from play to put them three ahead.

That’s always a dangerous lead and the home supporters endured a nervy few minutes, especially when Peter Smith pointed from play for Lavey.

But that was to be the final score of an exciting match, the result an encouraging start for Knockbride, while Lavey will be a different proposition with their full squad available.

Knockbride: James Lynch, Sean Rogers, Mark Magee, Daniel McGuinness, DJ Cassidy, Kevin Traynor, Micheál Clarke, Shane Carolan, Ben Mulvey, Roy Donohoe, Liam Fay, Ciaran Smith, Patrick Smith, Brendan Carolan, Sean Burns

Subs: Adrian Carroll, Niall McCabe, Fergal Smith, Conor Smith, Declan Nulty, Philip McCabe

Lavey: Conor Martin, Aodhgán Sheridan, David Conroy, Philip Smith, Darragh Tierney, Darren Jordan, Gavin Tierney, Peter Smith, Darragh Conaty, Shea Patrick Smith, Darren Monaghan, Thomas Plunket, Conor Smith, Ray Cullivan, Emmett Brady

Subs: Enda McMonagle, Paul Gilchreest, Shane Tierney, Oisin Tynan