This article is from page 114 of the 2009-02-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 114 JPG
IT was a comfortable victory in the end for champions Rock Rovers, but the thin line between victory and defeat was graphically illustrated in this full-blooded Sunday morning cup tie.
Rock, in their first defence of the title they won so sensationally in the County Grounds last May when beat- ing cup specialists Bunratty, were a goal down at half-time courtesy of Danny Scanlan’s brilliant finish in the 13th minute.
Throw in the fact that the Manus defence was in an uncompromising mood in that first half, snapping at the heels of their more vaunted op- ponents and not yielding an inch, let alone a clear-cut chance at goal.
But most of all throw in the fact that three minutes into the sec- ond half opportunity knocked for Michael Geraghty to put Manus into the dreamland of being 2-0 up on the cup champions and on the road to the last 16.
Geraghty was one-on-one with Rock keeper Leonard Keane — it looked easier to score than miss, but the latter prevailed when Geraghty blasted the ball wide from just inside the area.
Manus would have been full value for a 2-0 lead — they had dominated the first 35 minutes of the first half, forced six corners, controlling the midfield exchanges thanks to they physicality and looking dangerous up front thanks to Danny Scanlan.
His goal had class written all over it as he controlled Seanie Travers’
free with his left, dragged it onto his right foot and then hammered a low drive beyond Leonard Keane from
six yards. Ironically, Rock’s equaliser that came 40 seconds after Geraghty’s
miss was nearly a carbon copy of Manus’ opener. Greg Howard and Dean Gardiner worked the ball down
the right — Gardiner found Ashley Glynn on the edge of the six-yard box he controlled the ball with his left and then drove home the equaliser.
Rock were in the ascendancy from there on — they had the edge in fit- ness, but the game looked like going into extra-time until substitute Ro- nan Arthur struck for the lead goal with two minutes remaining.
The summer signing from Newmar- ket Celtic latched onto Barry Woods’ free and beat Blaise Talty from six yards. The icing was applied two minutes later when Shane Daniels’ free from midfield was headed home by Rowan Eade.
Rock could be on another cup run, but the 3-1 defeat definitely didn’t done Manus justice.