Three goal Macroom B leave United stranded
Macroom B 3 Strand United 1
Thursday February 18 2010
MACROOM B continued their excellent league form by beating Strand at the Town Park, Macroom on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of AUL League 3A.
In a tense top of the table clash, it was the home side that did all the pressing early on, and were unlucky not to hit the front when some excellent running from Barry Fitzgerald allowed Brian Horgan to find him, and he expertly lobbed the onrushing keeper only to see his effort come off the crossbar.
Macroom's dominance paid off in the 29th minute, when a great ball in by Pat Kelleher found Denis Cronin. His effort was flicked on by John Ronan into the path of Brian Horgan, whose precision finish arrowed into the roof of the net. Strand responded, but some excellent defending from Mark O'Callaghan kept them at bay.
The second half had a frantic start and Macroom took a two goal lead on 64 minutes when some great skill on the wing from Mark O'Callaghan allowed him to fire in a precision cross that was met in the air by Bryan Bradley, who expertly found the bottom corner.
Strand showed why they are second in the league by responding when a great cross was met by Padraig Murphy at the back post to bring htem right back into contention. Strand were pressing now, but it was Macroom who got the crucial next goal. After the inrushing Daniel Downey was chopped down Kelleher fired in a great cross and John Ronan's cushioned header was finished by Patrick Burns.
John Corkery was unlucky not to make it 4-1 in the dying stages, when some great skill led to him firing an unstoppable effort off the post.
