STEPHEN IS THE KING OF Y2K
Rugby star hits two late goals
Tuesday 10th September 2002. The Star - John Fallon.
Stedfast United 1 - Enniskerry Y2K 2
Fresh from starring for the Leinster Rugby Youths, 17-year-old Stephen King continued
to blaze by hitting two late goals in Enniskerry Y2K's fine win over Stedfast in the
Irish Life UCL Premier match. A man of multiple talents, King's class was required at
Marley Park when his Wicklow team trailed to Robbie Lancaster's opener with barely 15
minutes left. His rasping right foot free-kick then levelled matters before a mazey
dribble in injury time concluded with a cracking winning goal off his other foot. It
marked a credible scalp off Stedfast, a stalwart of the UCL Premier division. In
comparison, Enniskerry have enginneered their path to the top flight from lowly
Division 3 in the space of four seasons.
Crucial
This current spell of form may be crucial for their upcoming Statoil FAI Junior Cup
1st Round tie against fellow UCL outfit North Athletic. They will be hoping to land a
second-round spot and match a cup run to their early season promise demonstrated so
far in the league. The first half was even throughout - both sides finding chances
easily. Robbie Lancaster took his 15 minutes into the game, shooting his side into
a half-time lead. During that opening period, Enniskerry's prime outlet for
opportunities was Keith McNammee. Twice then he was presented with chances and failed
to score but his miss in the second period was most gut-wrenching. John Cronin burst
down the left flank and curled a ball low into the area to McNammee. Facing only the
'keeper Ritchie Fitzgibbon, the striker lost his concentration, miscontroled the ball
and allowed Fitzgibbon to smother the effort. Referee Joe O'Hanlon made the natural
choice of awarding a penalty to the visitors when Derek White jumped to handle the ball
in the area. Substitute Stephen Doyle - only on the pitch for McNammee - put the 'keeper
the wrong way only to blast the effort wide of the post. Teams sometimes have a
tendency to suffer those misses but instead, the Wickow men maintained their assault.
Gary McConnell conceded a free-kick 30 yards out on the left side and up stepped King
to flight the free high into the net. That King blossomed in the final stages of the
match was most ironic. Earlier in the day, he had completed a match for the Leinster
Rugby Youths team before aiding his soccer side's quest.
Wilted
As the game wilted away through injury time, King gave the crowning contribution. A
long ball down the right fell his way and after turning back inside a defender, he
struck a shot that clipped Fitzgibbon's fingertip and upright but fell kindly into the
net. "He always does really well for us," said manager Jim Bradshaw about his 17-year-old
starlet. "Stedfast are a great club and team so today's win was very pleasing. In
fairness to the lads, I thought that we played the better football even when they were a
goal down. After missing the penalty, we were left with a good bit to do but we managed
to come through with the points."
STEDFAST
: Ritchie Flanagan, Tommo Halligan, Aidan Delaney, Geoff
Dungan, Paul Geraghty, Derek White, Ciaran Prouse, Gary McConnell, Philip Power, Jimmy
McGrath, Robbie Lancaster.
Subs: Conor Fox, Stephen Whitty, Brian Farrelly, Robbie Donnelly.
ENNISKERRY Y2K
: Karl Bradshaw, Robert Leonard, John Cronin, Harry
McGeehan, Shane Devlin, Colm Devitt, Stephen King, Ian Rowe, Sean Redmond, Keith McNammee,
Jonathon Meehan.
Subs: Stephen Doyle, Paul Devlin, Richard Duignan, Robert McNamara, Gavin Doran.
REFEREE
: Joe O'Hanlon.
