Noel Recruitment Premier Division
Monasterevin AFC 2 Old Fort Celtic FC 6
Monasterevin welcomed newly promoted Portlaoise side Old Fort Celtic to Togher Road for their 2023 season opener in nice conditions to play football.
The home side started sluggishly as they took time to settle into the game with this very young side fielding eight debutants from their underage section and they found themselves 2-0 down in the opening four minutes. The first goal came from a corner whipped in and headed home from visiting striker Brian Smith. Old Fort Celtic doubled their advantage moments later when a very good cross was dispatched with a side foot from six yards out by the quick thinking Shane Brophy who made no mistake to make it 2-0.
This seemed to wake Monasterevin up and they started to play some nice passing football.
Danny Dee, Dylan Keane and Stephen Crooks trying to carve openings in the back line of the away side. They had a half change on eighteen minutes when a scramble in the box landed at feet of Dylan Keane who shot just wide.
Both sides were knocking the ball about without too much success in the final third of the pitch.
Old Fort then scored two more goals in the thirty first minute when a ball played over top of defence was chipped in by Shane Lynch and seven minutes later with a through ball sided footed into net by Shane Brophy for his second and his side’s fourth to leave the visitors going in 4-0 up at half time.
The second half was only two minutes old when Monasterevin got one back with some nice play. Eoin Phillips on right side of pitch playing it into the middle and a through ball over the top was expertly taken down by Dylan Keane who took one touch and blasted into bottom corner leaving the keeper with no chance to make it 4-1. For the next twenty minutes both sides worked hard to break each other down but the home defence of Eoin Phillips, Josh Bannon, Leon Moody and Adam o Flaherty held firm with Kian Ryan, Danny Dee and Dylan Keane causing problems for old fort.
With sixty eight minutes gone a ball played through made stand in keeper Ryan Quinn rush out to close the angle down from the old fort attacker. Ryan stayed on his feet showed great upper body strength and completed a drag back to break free from the attacker and play the ball out.
To the astonishment and bemusement of all present the referee pointed for a penalty which was clinically dispatched by Old Fort Celtic’s Brian Smith to leave Monasterevin with no chance of a comeback.
With fifteen minutes remaining the home side pulled one goal back when an excellent free kick was swung in by Dylan Keane and powerfully headed home by Danny Dee to make it 5-2.
With Monasterevin chasing for another goal the visitors countered and a shot that was tipped onto bar from Ryan Quinn in goals was tapped home by the oncoming Brophy to finish the scoring off.
Monasterevin boasting eight players formally from their underage section showed in glimpses with hard work they will improve. Best for Monasterevin were Dylan Keane , Danny Dee & Leon Moody while for the winners who will be happy with their Premier League opener Shane Brophy was their man of the match.