CCFL Division 1 Cup q/f

Cian Ryle after his phenomenal goal for Rosenallis against Moydow FC in the CCFL Division 1 Cup on Sunday      Photo: Denis Byrne

Rosenallis A  2

Moydow        1

ROSENALLIS are through to the Division 1 Cup semi-finals, having come from behind to beat Moydow. The Longford side were well fancied as they sit top of the Saturday Division 1 table but the hosts proved too strong in the end with goals from Cian Ryle and Charlie Friel.

Moydow are a fast, skilful side who played some lovely football, especially in the opening twenty minutes. They created plenty of chances, threatening Paul Friel’s goals several times in the early stages.

And the visitors took the lead with a penalty in the 13th minute after Anthony Gorman handled the ball in the box. Sean Clarke stepped up and slotted the ball home to give his side the lead.

Clarke is a quality player, as is younger brother Robert. The pair easily looked the best players on the pitch in the first half as Moydow threatened to take control.

Rosenallis had initially started in an inverted 4-3-3 formation, but dropped Ryle deeper into midfield after the goal to change to a more traditional 4-4-2. The front pair of Charlie Friel and Brian Fitzpatrick were working incredibly hard up front, constantly making runs in behind the defence and creating space for their side.

The hosts were level after half an hour thanks to a phenomenal individual goal from Ryle. He received the ball wide on the right in an innocent looking position, but jinked in and out of four Moydow defenders before driving the ball into the roof of the net from a very challenging angle.

There was plenty of niggle after the equaliser as the challenges began flying in on both sides. The hostility continued into the second half until a few yellow cards settled things down.

For all their pace and skill, Moydow were the much smaller team and the physicality took its toll as their players began to tire. Their big, physical presence in midfield, Cillian Glacken, was on a yellow from early in the first half, which severely restricted his influence on the game.

Rosenallis were awarded a penalty of their own 20 minutes from time, when Reuben Murray was handled the ball. Friel dispatched the spot kick to put his side in front.

Moydow continued to press for the remainder of the game with Sean and Robert Clarke again coming the closest. Rosenallis, however, continued to send long balls to their strikers, keeping Moydow at bay until the final whistle. The centre-back combination of Darren McEvoy and Adam McDermott were rock solid for the 90 minutes and protected their goal well.

Elsewhere in the cup, Clonaslee were 4-1 winners at home to Offaly’s Shamrock Celtic. The two Laois sides now await their fate when the go into the draw for the semi-finals.

ROSENALLIS: Paul Friel; Conor Conroy, Darren McEvoy, Adam McDermott, Anthony Gorman; John Dunne, Jack Friel, Adam Finlay; Charlie Friel, Brian Fitzpatrick, Cian Ryle.

Subs: Conor Dowling for Dunne (65m), Jack Claffey for Finlay (70m), Damien Gorman for Conroy (77m), Niall Doolin for Fitzpatrick (86m), Mark Graham for Gorman (86m)

MOYDOW: Brian Carr, Sean Murphy, Cillian Glacken, Reuben Murray, Ronan Sheehan, Robert Clarke, Sean Clarke, Ruairí Clarke, David Keenan, David McNally, Keelan Dowd.