Glasnevin FC v Rivermeade FC
Wednesday 19th May
Albert Collage
AFL Saturday Premier Division

Glasnevin came up against bitter rivals Rivermeade for this mid week match. The visitors knew a win would make them champions for the second year running while the Diggers where looking to salvage third spot from a disappointing season.
Manager Dan Daly had a full squad to choose from for one of the few times this season. For once he was able to name 5 subs with 3 players having to make do as spectators in what would be an enthralling match.
Striker Rafael Nunes was brought into the attack alongside captain Kenny McLoughlin and he made an energetic start to the match, chasing down the opponents and also controlling the ball well at times.
The visitors where well up for the match too and the game was frantic for the opening 5 minutes. Glasnevin made the first attack with Keith Kearns flying down the right wing and sending in a good cross which was put out for a corner. Karl Hearns flashed his header wide from the resulting kick.
Two minutes later the visitors broke forward and Alan McHugh was glad to see a shot flash wide on 8 minutes, the diggers broke again. Willie Byrne got down the right wing well, getting the ball to the end line but his cross was straight into the keeper’s hands.
Glasnevin where just about shading proceedings but they failed to make use of a succession of free kicks. The first hard tackle of the game took 18 minutes to come and it was dished out by Colin Daly just outside the box. Rivermeade where awarded a free kick but sent it straight into the wall with the resulting ball cleared to safety.
That was enough to wake the visitors though and they started to spread the ball around nicely, opening up the home side at times. On 20 minutes Ian Daly picked up a silly yellow card for dissent and this would come back to haunt him later in the game.
The next 10 minutes became a scrappy affair, Glasnevin creating a few chances but Robbie O’Neill’s cross couldn’t be met and then Karl Hearns had a shot go wide on 23 minutes.
Rivermeade showed some real intent on 25 minutes when they had a good shot saved by Alan McHugh. Colin Daly clearing away for a throw in. The away side blasted a shot just over from the throw.
Glasnevin where wasting possession in midfield and they where made to pay for it on 28 minutes when Rivermeade opened them up for the first goal of the game. Slack defending allowed the visitors to drift into the box and find they’re man without a meaningful tackle before unleashing a powerful drive into the top of the net, giving McHugh no chance.
Rivermeade’s tails where up and they blasted another shot just over two minutes later.
It wasn’t until the 35th minute that Glasnevin made a another chance of note when Karl Hearns flicked on a header from a free kick but Robbie O’Neill was just inches from getting the connection he needed to divert it goalward. Willie Byrne then played in Kenny McLoughlin on 37 minutes only to see his shot hit straight at the keeper.
The referee wasn’t taking any kind of back chat and awarded free kicks on numerous occasions with the visitors penalised on 39 minutes. Colin Daly’s tremendous free kick was just tipped wide by the keeper.
Glasnevin where pressing for an equaliser but Rivermeade where looking for the counter attack and on 43 minutes they did just that but the move ended with a shot straight at McHugh who palmed it out for a corner. 1-0 it was going into the half time interval.
Rivermeade came out firing for the second half and they had an effort go agonisingly over just a minute after the break, much to the relief of the home team. That stirred the Diggers into action and Willie Byrne broke well down the right only see his cross go into the side netting.
The Diggers kept pressing though and on 48 minutes Kenny McLoughlin was brought harshly for a penalty kick. Karl Hearns took the kick only for the keeper to save well to his right.
Colin Daly then put in a good long throw on 51 minutes but again nobody got on the end of it. Rafael Nunes then had a good header flash wide from a corner on 53mins as Glasnevin stepped it up again. The home side made they’re first change of the game straight after with James Lynch coming for Padraig Tansey at left back.
On 53 minutes Alan McHugh made a good stop from a shot after a corner kick. Just after, Sean Johnston had to make a smart tackle to stop a dangerous attack.
The game erupted in the 59th minute when Rivermeade where given a free kick on the edge of the box. As they prepared to take the kick, an incident broke out in the box involving both sets of players. After a chaotic few moments, things where settled down only for the referee to send off Colin Daly and the visiting number 9. Eventually the free kick was taken, with Karl Hearns clearing for a corner.
On 65 minutes the home side had a great chance to level things up when McLoughlin broke well only to shoot straight at the keeper. They nearly paid for that when Rivermeade broke fast on 70 minutes but luckily the ball went out for a corner.
Ciaran McKenna entered the game in replacement of Nunes and straight away he made an impact with a fine shot that was parried by the keeper with no red jersey there for the follow up.
The visitors countered again and tested the 3 man defence on 72 minutes but Ian Daly stood firm to deny them a chance and again on 77 minutes. He was then bizarrely sent off on 80 minutes for a second bookable offence, the referee stating intent on a challenge for his dismissal much to his disbelief. Glasnevin where now down to nine men and only 2 defenders so Keith Kearns slotted into the defence with the side going 3-3-2 for the remainder of the game. Fernando also came on to make his debut for the injured Willie Byrne, with the Brazilian given a free role to try and get something out of the game.
He had an immediate impact, slipping in O’Neill who saw his effort blast just over on 84 minutes. Glasnevin then got the goal they deserved when they where awarded a free kick on 87 minutes. The resulting kick drifted to the back post for Fernando to control finish superbly to the delighted of the home team.
He should have had a second 2 minutes later but his shot fizzed past the upright to the delight of a shell-shocked Rivermeade. Then with the last kick of the game the away keeper kept his side level when saved well to deny Glasnevin the win they craved.
The final whistle was blown after 4 minutes of injury to leave both sides going away with a point each.
The result means that Rivermeade only have to better the goal difference of Columba to retain the league with 2 games remaining. Glasnevin on the other hand can still make third spot they’re own if they win the remaining 3 games. That starts with a home game against relegation threatened Hadleigh Pines on Saturday.





Team:

Alan McHugh (GK)

Padraig Tansey (LB)
Colin Daly(CB)
Ian Daly (CB)
Sean Johnston (RB)

Robbie O’Neill (LM)
Karl Hearns (Mid)
Willie Byrne (Mid)
Keith Kearns (RM)

Kenny McLoughlin (FW)
Rafael Nunes (FW)

Substitutes:
James Lynch
Fernando
Mark McCauley
Jake Warren
Ciaran McKenna