CLONOWN ROVERS 1 BIRR TOWN B 5
John Dingle
Clonown Rovers have made a return to the Combined Counties League in 2022 and were looking to halt a run of three straight defeats in Division Three last Sunday morning with Birr Town B the visitors to the South Roscommon club.
Rovers needed an early boost but conceded inside the first five minutes, a corner kick causing the damage as James Butler fired to the net from the edge of the penalty area. Clonown had a chance to respond but Tope Oladiti had a shot blocked and then cleared behind by the opposing defender.
Birr came close to doubling their lead on 10 minutes when a free kick from the right by Ger Hutchinson was pushed over the bar by Neil Hannon. Oladiti had another shot saved but the home team conceded again after 15 minutes, Niall Bradley slotting the ball past the keeper’s right. Birr then took control but could not add to their goal tally before the break.
The home team took heart from the Birr misses and Cormac Fallon had a free saved as David Flynn also fired wide. The visitors were denied by a goal line clearance just after the 30 minute mark when Eoin Meaney got back to deny Birr.
Clonown made the most of the let off to reduce the deficit, Oladiti cutting in from the right and although his shot was blocked by the keeper, Flynn was on hand to slot home the rebound. It handed the hosts a lifeline but they were fortunate not to have again gone two goals behind, the woodwork coming to Rovers rescue six minutes from the break when a corner kick was met by Ger O’Brien and his header crashed against the post.
The hosts were still in contention but a slow restart proved costly. There was just two minutes played when Birr restored their two goal advantage. A cross from the right was parried by Hannon but Bradley headed home the rebound. The Birr number nine completed his hat trick just after the hour mark. Birr rounded off the rout with a quarter of an hour remaining when Derek McLoughlin scored via the post as Rovers suffered another defeat.
CCFL Round Up
Most of the other local teams were in knockout action as the Paddy Cotter Cup took centre stage. The first-round draw threw up an all Senior Division local derby as Ballinahown entertained Monksland. The hosts edged through by the odd goal in five as last season’s finalists fell at the first hurdle.
There were mixed fortunes for two other top-flight local teams, both of whom were playing at home. Willow Park threw away a two-goal lead against BBC United but, with the game heading towards extra time, veteran Ronan Frawley popped to head home the winner.
There was no such luck though for St Peters as the boys in Green were beaten by St Aengus. Temple Villa put up a good fight against Birr Town but found the step up in divisions too great and made their exit.
