O'Donovan hat-trick shows Dunmanway mean business

Dunmanway Town 6

Spartak Mossgrove 1

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

DUNMANWAY Town maintained their perfect start to the new PremierHiSpecCars.com West Cork League Premier Division season with victory at home to Spartak Mossgrove last Sunday morning.

Little doubt that Dunmanway are now firmly installed as one of the clubs challenging for honours following last weekend’s six-goal blast. Granted, their opponents were missing a host of regular starters but take nothing away from Town’s pace, finishing ability and defensive solidity which bodes well for the remainder of the campaign.

Dunmanway entered last weekend’s clash sitting joint-top of the table alongside Ballydehob following two consecutive victories. Their opponents were previously involved in a 4-3 loss at home to Clonakilty AFC and eager to get to get off the mark. 

Spartak’s bright start was almost rewarded with an opening goal when Rory Kelleher brought the best out of Stephen Daly inside three minutes. Dunmanway’s response was instant, Cathal Daly’s goal-bound header brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar by Alan O’Neill prior to the Mossgrove goalkeeper using his feet to deny the hosts for a second time.

Both sides were shorn of the talents of many first team regulars but a slicker-passing Dunmanway continued to press and broke the deadlock after eight minutes.

Aidan O’Donovan’s superb delivery found Cathal Daly in Spartak’s penalty area and the young striker made no mistake with a sublime finish. One-nil became 2-0 three minutes later as the visitors were caught pushing high up the pitch. Barry O’Donovan sprung the offside trap, collected Cathal Daly’s lofted pass and flicked a shot past an outrushing Alan O’Neill. 

Dunmanway increased their lead when Barry O’Donovan managed to wriggle free in the penalty box and curl a low shot into the bottom corner. Dunmanway’s pace and clinical finishing was too much for Spartak to handle as Cathal Daly outpaced the visiting defence and beat Alan O’Neill to the ball to make it 4-0. 

Unsurprisingly, the second period was a much more pedestrian affair. The cushion of a four-goal lead allowed Dunmanway to sit deep and hit their opponents on the counter-attack. That tactic delivered a fifth strike just shy of the hour mark when Barry O’Donovan gained possession wide on the left and advanced down the wing before crossing for Timmy O’Donovan to force the ball over the line.

Before Barry O’Donovan completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, Rory Kelleher scored a late consolation effort for Spartak, making the most of a Rick Bradfield assist.

Based on this performance and their early season form, Dunmanway Town possess all the necessary ingredients to mount a serious Premier Division title challenge in 2019. As for Spartak, they should be a much tougher proposition once their absent GAA contingent returns over the coming weeks. 

Dunmanway Town: Stephen Daly, John Healy, Rory Baggott, Aidan O’Donovan, Keith Sheehan, Stephen O’Donovan (captain), Cathal Donovan, Cathal Daly, Stephen Keohane, Barry O’Donovan, Rhys Coakley.

Subs: Gavin Sheehan, Timmy O’Donovan, Vincent Healy.

Spartak Mossgrove: Alan O’Neill, Brian O’Donovan, Denis Fahy, Cormac Ryan, Rory Kelleher (captain), Michael Bradfield, Martin Kingston, Rick Bradfield, Josh O’Donovan, Patrick Kenneally, Cian Dineen.

Subs: Bernard O’Callaghan, Gearoid O’Callaghan. 

Referee: Patrick Hurley.