RORY'S LATE LATE SHOW
Bel' tolls for United
November 2nd 1999. The Star by Derek Wilcox.
Belmont Wanderers 2 - Stedfast United 3
A last minute strike from Rory O'Hanlon clinched Stedfast victory against Belmont at Herbert
Park on Saturday. The visitors opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when O'Hanlon rounded
the keeper and directed his shot into the far corner of the net.
Delicate
Belmont were back on level terms minutes later when Paul McEntee grabbed his first goal of the
match with a delicate chip over advancing Stedfast 'keeper, William Houston. Stedfast regained
the lead in the 40th minute when Cormack McGovern pounced on a poor clearance and curled the ball
into the top corner of the net. Once again the visitors lead was short lived, as Belmont hit
back soon afterwards when Stedfast failed to clear their lines. McEntee fired low into the corner
to level the score and punish the Stedfast defenders. The heavy pitch took it's toll on the
players in the second half and the teams looked set to share the points. But O'Hanlon's splendid
strike in the dying seconds nadded the victory for Stedfast. Stedfast almost made an explosive
impact in the opening minute when Brian Hannon played a ball to release O'Hanlon down the left
flank. His cross into the box picked out Harry Harrrison, but he lost his footing in the mud just
as he was about to shoot. In the 13th minute, O'Hanlon squared a perfect ball to the unmarked
Hannon, but the Stedfast striker could not direct his shot on target.
Awarded
Stedfast were awarded a free kick 25 yards out in the 20th minute and O'Hanlon managed to bend his
shot around the five man wall and the post. The opening goal came in the 23rd minute when Harry
Harrison played a delicate through ball to release O'Hanlon who finished with confidence. Going
behind seemed to spur Belmont on and they responded minutes later. Arthur King chipped the ball
over the Stedfast defence and McEntee made sure of the equaliser.
Excellent
Excellent team work from Belmont's Gary Green and Colm Daly set up Aidan Ingoldsby on the left
but the Stedfast keeper saved well at the striker's feet. Belmont almost took the lead after 32
minutes when an Ian Delamare cross from the right picked out Green on the 18-yard line. But
Green's powerful goalbound blast took a deflection and went out for a corner. Stedfast went in
front again in the 40th minute when the Belmont defence had great difficulty clearing McGovern's
corner kick. When the ball was played back to him, he fired a left footed shot high into the top
corner. Belmont responded magnificently once again and were level two minutes later when Ian
Delamere's cross into the Stedfast box caused panic. McEntee pounced to fire low into the corner
and tie the game at 2-2.
Organised
Stedfast enjoyed great possession in the second half but could not penetrate a well organised
Belmont defence, who soaked up the pressure and tried to hit the visitors on the break. Belmont
goalkeeper George Rock pulled off the save of the match in the second half to deny Stedfast's Donal
Brady. Stedfast struck the killer blow in the 90th minute when a long ball out of defence by
McGovern set up O'Hanlon. The striker kept his head superbly and picked his spot well to demoralise
the home side. Stedfast manager Karl Markey said afterwards "I am thrilled that we managed to
secure the three points." Belmont manager David Matthews was upset with his team's late crash.
"I was bitterly disappointed that we conceded such a late winner."
STEDFAST
: W Houston, A Walsh, C McGovern, G Duncan, S Ellis, D Brady,
S Coffey, R O'Hanlon, B Hannon, H Harrison, G Lawless.
Subs : G Quirke for H Harrison (56 mins), P Redmond for G Lawless (76 mins).
REFEREE: Jim Galvin.
Donal and Harry battle against Belmont