Blast from the past. Jan2004. Carrigtwohill punish Knockavilla visitors in County Cup

Blast from the past. County Cup, Jan 2004 

Carrigtwohill punish Knockavilla visitors.

Carrig's Noel Gubbins heads into the Knockavilla box

Pics taken 24.01.2004

COUNTY CUP

Carrigtwohill United 4 Knockavilla Celtic 0

Third division high fliers Knockavilla Celtic came a cropper at Slatty Park on Saturday when they lost 4-0 in the Murphy’s Stout County Cup to first division hosts Carrigtwohill United whose first and last goals came from terrific crosses by left back Niall Kidney.

Adrian Kidney (left) and Knockavilla's David Murphy

Celtic were under siege for most of the first half but it was just one nil at the break and the visitors were in with a chance. But they pressed the self-destruct button soon after the interval and the concession of two soft goals meant they were out of it long before sub Carl Sylvester stretched to make it 4-0 in the second last minute.

Knockavilla, one of a string of teams chasing the title in AUL 3, started brightly enough and, for ten minutes or so, pushed the home side back. But for all their possession in midfield, they never got through to trouble keeper Adrian Kidney.

Carrig's Brian Barry gets away from Rob Walsh.

The visitors soon came under pressure and the cracks were showing after 15 minutes, with both John Burke and John Canty receiving yellow cards in quick succession.

And the visitors were split wide open in the 20^th minute when Kidney fired in a smashing cross from deep. Derek “Nozzle” Healy seemed to lull his marker into a false sense of security before jumping late to direct a looping header over a frantically back-pedalling keeper.

Knockavilla's John Burke (left) with Noel Gubbins.

Brian Barry was also doing well for Carrig and soon tested keeper O'Brien with a pile diver and then a Derek Healy shot, after good approach play by Leonard Healy and Kidney, wasn’t too far wide.

And Carrig came ever so close to a spectacular second in the 32^nd minute. Then a Mick Fitzgerald free was half cleared to Leonard Healy and his fantastic 20 yard volley flew like a rocket but crashed off the inside of the far post before bouncing across the goal to safety.

Niall Kidney (left) moves in to take the ball away from Knockavilla's David Murphy.

Carrig were now so much on top and so comfortable that their defence began to get a bit complacent. In the 36^th minute, a ball that should have hammered to safety by the defender was instead stolen by John Burke and he crossed into the box but the reaction of his colleagues was poor and the chance ended with Gerry O'Keeffe shooting wide from close in.

Carrig were nearly caught again five minutes into the second half. Then their slowly advancing defensive line were caught as David Murphy, one of Knockavilla’s best, turned and chased a high Brian Powell clearance. He beat keeper Kidney as they clashed and the ball ran towards the empty goal but full back Cormac Carroll got in to clear it just inches ahead of Celtic sub Richie Butler.

Carrigtwohill's Noel Gubbins has his eyes shut as Knockavilla's John Burke (left) has his on the ball.

But the mistakes after that were made by the visitors and severely punished. In the 53^rd minute, Adrian Hodnett was left totally unmarked a few yards from goal to finish off good work by Leonard Healy and Brian Barry.

It got even worse five minutes later. Then the back-line and keeper all converged on a long ball. Derek Healy saw his chance and got in among them to turn the ball into the empty net to make it 3-0.

A moment of uncertainty in the Knockavilla box

It took the underdogs some time to recover from that double whammy but, midway through, they did have two fleeting chances, in quick succession. Murphy fired in a great cross from the right; no one availed of it and it came to Canty on the left but his cross was also wasted.

There would be no consolation goal for the visitors though they did come close in the 81^st minute. Then Burke, who had faded after a bright opening, got in behind the defence. His effort though was well saved by keeper Kidney and his second was turned behind for a corner by Brian Nolan. Rob Walsh got his head to the corner ball but saw his effort go well over.

Carrigtwohill's Adrian Hodnett (left) slides in to tackle

Carrig used their three subs. Steven Moore, the man who looks after their website, was among them but, on this occasion, he failed to find the net, though he did go close.

That was left to fellow sub Sylvester. Again the chance came from a quality cross from the left by Kidney and the sub went full stretch to turn it past keeper O’Brien from close in. O'Brien wasn't the only Knockavilla player relieved to hear the final whistle that was sounded soon afterwards by referee Larry Buckley.

Carrig's Brian Barry gets away from Rob Walsh (left).

Carrigtwohill United: Adrian Kidney, Cormac Carroll, Noel Gubbins, Brian Nolan, Michael Fitzgerald, David Barry, Niall Kidney, Adrian Hodnett, Derek Healy, Brian Barry and Leonard Healy. Subs used: Steven Moore for Barry (62^nd minute), Carl Sylvester and Colin O’Neill for Hodnett and Gubbins (both 77^th).

Knockavilla Celtic: Michael O’Brien, Brian Powell, John Canty, Barry Cullinane, Tony Shiels, John Burke, Damien O'Riordan, Rob Walsh, Garry O'Keeffe, David Murphy and Billy Powell. Subs used: Richie Butler for O’Keeffe (at half-time) and Jeremy Hurley for Brian Powell (61^st minute).

Referee: Larry Buckley.

Knockavilla's Rob Walsh runs at the Carrig defence

Knockavilla's David Murphy tussles with Niall Kidney (left)