League

Ballinaspig Park
Spectators: 6769 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1769, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Rowan Walker started the match with the kick off. Donn Hunt struck a weak shot in the 6th minute. Conaill Coyle didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ballinaspig AFC. Branigan Caffrey charged in rather forcefully in the 7th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Branigan Caffrey the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Ballinaspig AFC's Enda Cassin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rowan Walker in the 10th minute of play. Bearach McCollion could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 12th minute of the match, but Conaill Coyle made a huge save. A collision led to Ballinaspig AFC getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Alexander Willson hit a great ball. Bearach McCollion recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 22 minutes into the game, Toren Gillmour was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Rathkip's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ballinaspig AFC the free kick. After a rather tough play, Rathkip's Toren Gillmour got a free kick in the 22nd minute. In the 23rd minute, Donn Hunt got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Berach Gollogley during the 24th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 26 minutes, Daithi Murphy made it 0-1 with a short kick to the right side. Ballinaspig AFC's Enda Cassin tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. The referee felt a red card was in order, 30 minutes into the game, when Cleary McWillie put in a rough tackle. In the 30th minute, one of Rathkip:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Rathkip. An unexpectedly hard shot by Donn Hunt in the 38th minute of play forced Rathkip's goalkeeper Conaill Coyle to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Daithi Murphy struck a weak shot in the 42nd minute. Enda Cassin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Rathkip. If Carrigan McMichel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Daithi Murphy came up free with the goalie in the 45th minute, the Rathkip fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Daithi Murphy couldn't finish the play. In the 46th minute Toren Gillmour shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Enda Cassin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Donn Hunt to make the kick off. If Daithi Murphy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Carrigan McMichel received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Enda Cassin came out and tried to block the shot, but Carrigan McMichel slotted it home off the left post making it 1-2 in the 54th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daithi Murphy in the 60th minute of play forced Ballinaspig AFC's goalkeeper Enda Cassin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Rathkip booed when Ballinaspig AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 62 match minutes in a wonderful position. Boyce O'Keefe didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Daithi Murphy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Donn Hunt came up free with the goalie in the 66th minute, the Ballinaspig AFC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Donn Hunt couldn't finish the play. Daithi Murphys short, quick shot in the 69thth minute got Enda Cassin to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 71st minute Carrigan McMichel shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Enda Cassin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Daithi Murphy fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 73rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Enda Cassin having to interfere. Carrigan McMichel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 77 minutes into the match, Ballinaspig AFC's goalkeeper Enda Cassin had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daithi Murphy. In the 79th minute of the match Rathkip got a corner. Ballinaspig AFC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Fergus Branson ran over to the corner to take the kick. After a rather tough play, Rathkip's Toren Gillmour got a free kick in the 80th minute. When Bram McNamee fell near the penalty area in the 86th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ballinaspig AFC's protests and gave Bram McNamee a yellow card for diving instead. In the 86th minute, one of Ballinaspig AFC:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Ballinaspig AFC. Ballinaspig AFC:s Enda Cassin showed great skill when he stopped Fergus Branson:s penalty. In the 95th play minute Daithi Murphy came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Enda Cassin. 1-3. Rathkip's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.