MSL soccer: Carrigaline United claim top spot with win at Castleview

Castleview 1

Carrigaline United 2

Carrigaline United leapfrogged Mayfield United into top spot in the Beamish Stout Senior First Division table following their 2-1 win over Castleview at O’Sullivan Park.

The Ballea Park side had to come from a goal down to claim all the points, but overall they were worth their victory.

Mayfield were not in action, which allowed Carrigaline to slide into top spot, but it looks like both sides will be sitting in the promotion places at the end of the season, with the title still up for grabs and the decisive game could be the clash between the two at Ballea Park.

Castleview, who started the game in the promotion/relegation spot in third, slipped to fourth place after Bandon beat Wilton United 3-0 at the same time and moved to within five points of Mayfield.

Better

Castleview settled well and were the better side early on. Chances were scarce though and Carrigaline keeper Ryan Delaney wasn’t called into action until the 17th minute when he easily dealt with a Patrick O’Donoghue free kick from 20 yards.

Moments later, Delaney held an O’Keeffe strike while midway through the half, Kieran Kavanagh broke from left-back to get on the end of a good Castleview move, but lifted his effort from a difficult angle over the crossbar.

Two minutes later Castleview got their reward when Timmy Power’s drive from just inside the penalty area beat Delaney.

The goal shook Carrigaline into the life and they came more into the game. They went in at the break on level when Andrew Cronin won possession in midfield, broke forward before unleashing a shot that came back off the crossbar, but Jamie Moore was on hand to knock home the rebound from inside the penalty area.

The second half was only two minutes old when the pendulum turned in the visitors’ favour — Nathan Manson- Browne scoring from the right side of the penalty area to give the visitors the lead.

Carrigaline had wrestled control of the game and they wouldn’t relinquish it.

Indeed they could have increased their advantage on 70 minutes when Dylan O’Flaherty got on the end of a cross after Castleview had lost possession, but he fired over from six yards.

At the other end O’Donoghue had a glancing header go wide in what was a rare attempt on goal from the home side in the second half, while Carrigaline’s Cronin saw an effort come back off the post and into keeper Jordan O’Connor’s hands late on, but the visitors had done enough at that point.

Bandon replaced Castleview in third spot when they defeated Wilton United 3-0 at Pat Bowdren Park.

Brendan Cullen gave Bandon an early lead and the visitors led 1-0 at half-time.

Paul Nnotum made it 2-0 early in the second half and Cullen got his second on the hour mark.

The result leaves Wilton stuck in the relegation places, t second with Everton on 13 points.

Lakewood remain in bottom spot, five points behind despite picking up a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Leeside United.

Lakewood’s Kenny Murphy and Darragh Aherne exchanged goals with Leeside’s Alan Hogan and Ryan O’Regan.

The Ovens outfit look set for a return to the second division, but it’s still unclear who will be ing them.

Everton and Wilton are in the most danger, with both having three games to play.

Everton have the trickier run-in with home games against Carrigaline and Blarney and a trip to Castleview to come.

Wilton will face Leeside at home and Lakewood and Riverstown away.

CASTLEVIEW: Jordan O’Connor, Aaron Broderick, Kieran Kavanagh, Zach Philpott, Dean Holland, Adam Higgins, David O’Keeffe, Jason Magee, Craig Doherty, Patrick O’Donoghue, Timmy Power.

Subs: Shane Gostl for Broderick (59), Jake Murray for Higgins (82),

CARRIGALINE: Ryan Delaney, Shane Dawson, Darragh Corcoran, Cian Kingston, Kalem Spillane, Ronan Connolly, Andy Daunt, Jamie Moore, Dylan O’Flaherty, Nathan Manson-Browne, Andrew Cronin.

Subs: Rob Walker for Kingstown (18), Adam Costello for Connolly (48).

Referee: Darren O’Sullivan.