MOORE UNITED 0 ST PETERS 4
St Peters stretched their lead at the top of the Roscommon League Premier Division when they put four goals past bottom club Moore United at Falty last Friday night. Mark McConnell was the Saints hero helping himself to a hat trick, with top scorer, Mark Sherlock, grabbing a fourth score with fifteen minutes remaining.
The form indicated an away win but Moore put it up to the leaders and were unlucky not to have been closer when the final whistle sounded.
The first chance of the game fell to Jonathan Moloney, making his debut for the Saints, but the shot from the left was wide. Emmett Kenny had the first home chance when firing a shot at the keeper.
The woodwork then intervened at either end. Saint’s captain Daragh Concannon crashed a free kick off the bar with the loose ball being put behind for the first corner kick, while at the other end, Andy Nevin’s cross from the right was swept off the bar by Emmett Kenny.
The deadlock was broken midway through the opening half. Sherlock sent in a low cross from the right and McConnell tapped home from close range. McConnell had further chances to complete his hat trick in the half. The number ten had two attempts at scoring in quick succession with Kevin Dunne also coming close following a free kick.
The Saints doubled their lead after 39 minutes. In a similar move to the earlier score, David Donohoe delivered the cross from the right as McConnell again found the net from close range.
There was plenty more action in the second half with Moore again out of luck in front of the goal. Saint’s keeper Aidan Fallon made two great blocks to keep United at bay. Donohoe had two early chances as Moore earned a corner just after the hour mark. On 65 minutes, substitute Charles Nevin was denied by Fallon.
The visiting keeper was again in action moments later when blocking a shot from Emmett Kenny. The Saints survived and ended the game as a contest with a third goal. McConnell completed his hat trick, tapping into an empty net, after the Moore keeper had failed to control a long ball forward.
The scoring was completed after 74 minutes when top scorer Sherlock added to his tally forcing the ball home from inside the penalty area following Concannon’s corner kick delivery. The Saints then earned two corners in quick succession with substitute Kyle Tobin firing wide following a free kick.
Moore’s last chance also came from a dead ball situation but a corner was not capitalised upon. St. Peters ended the half on the attack as the home challenge faded. McConnell had two more chances to add to his goal tally but was off target on each occasion. In between, two further corners were earned with centre half Dunne heading over from the second.
The Saints maintain their unbeaten run while Moore’s positive performance suggests that a second win of the league season is not that far away.
