Staunton double consigns battling St Francis youths to another defeat

Two superbly-taken goals from striker Martin Staunton proved just about enough to condemn St. Francis to their third reversal of the season to bottom of the table side Portlaoise AFC at Iona Park last Saturday afternoon. Having conceded two goals either side of half-time, a spectacular (if possibly fortunate) effort from Kenneth Prendergast looked like giving the home side some hope. Although they pushed hard for an equaliser - and in fact had a goal questionably disallowed late on - the equaliser wasn't forthcoming and Portlaoise held out for their second win of the season. Martin Staunton was the stand-out player for the visiting side. In addition to his two goals, the striker exhibited some excellent hold-up play and a blistering turn of pace as well as always providing an excellent option of an 'out-ball' for his team-mates. For St. Francis, central-midfielder Matthew Carragher was the stand-out player. His passing, tackling and all-round play did much to aid the St. Francis cause. JB Boland, despite being caught out for the first Portlaoise goal, recovered well to have a fine game in central defence. The result sees Portlaoise overtake St. Francis and, in doing so, relegates the Athlone side to the bottom of the CCFL Youths Premier Division with just one win from four. The home side began the game well and soon had Portlaoise on the back-foot when a Jamie O'Connor cross on eight minutes was headed off-target by Kenneth Prendergast. Two minutes later, though, Portlaoise fired a warning shot when danger-man Mark Staunton was played through on goal. But 'keeper Andrew Lynam was quick to move from his line to deny the striker a shot on target. A lull in play ensued until the 21st minute when the deadlock was broken. A long, high ball forward looked like causing the Francis defence no trouble but JB Boland miscued his clearance and the ball fell to Staunton who had a clear run at goal. Lynam came out to narrow the angle but Staunton coolly placed the ball past the Francis 'keeper to give the visitors the lead. Immediately St. Francis went about getting back in the game and Darren Harney went close with a long-range effort on 24 minutes. Three minutes later, Portlaoise almost doubled their lead when the ball broke to Stuart O'Sullivan on the edge of the box after a cross in from the left. O'Sullivan struck the ball but with the goalkeeper stranded, the ball flew inches wide of the post. On 31 minutes, another Portlaoise attack saw Staunton cross in from the left to Jason Bergin who headed the ball goalwards only to see the ball cleared away. Five minutes later, a St. Francis ball in from the left-wing by Mark Gaughan caused havoc when goalkeeper Stuart Dangan dropped the cross before it was eventually cleared off the line by a Portlaoise defender. Down the other end, a similar situation occurred when Stuart O'Sullivan forced a magnificent point-blank save from Andrew Lynam. A goalmouth scramble followed but some desperate St. Francis defending finally managed to clear the danger. As the half drew to a close, St. Francis were looking increasingly shaky at the back. Stuart O'Sullivan went close again just before the half-time whistle but Andrew Lynam dealt with the danger. St. Francis made a strong start to the second half as they searched for the elusive equalising goal. Jamie O'Connor was first to go close but he struck wide after the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box. Kenneth Prendergast then struck a long-range free kick wide before Oisin Moore volleyed over the bar following a Matthew Carragher corner. But just as it looked as though St Francis might find a way back into the game, they were caught out on the break on 56 minutes. A long clearance out of the Portlaoise defence was latched on to by the speedy Staunton who nodded the ball down for himself, left his man for dead and slammed the ball home at the near post, giving Lynam no chance in the Francis goal. A killer blow for the home side but just three minutes later they finally grabbed a goal themselves. A Kenneth Prendergast picked the ball up close to the sideline and from about 35 yards sent the ball towards goal. Remarkably the ball curled the whole way into the top corner in off the post. Whether or not Prendergast meant it or not is up for debate, but Francis now had their way back into the game. Portlaoise were now relying, just as they had done for their second goal, on counter-attacks but some good football on 62 minutes nearly saw their two-goal lead re-established. Some excellent hold-up play from Staunton saw him play the ball inside to Stuart O'Sullivan who laid the ball off to Gary O'Sullivan. He opened up his body and curled the ball just wide from outside the box. Two minutes later, a diagonal ball from the right wing from Stephen Barr was dropped by the Portlaoise 'keeper. Substitute James Craughwell had an open goal but he headed wide. In fairness to Craughwell, though, the chance came to him very quickly and he wouldn't have expected the 'keeper to drop the ball. As the game moved into the final ten minutes, St. Francis were still searching for the equaliser. A cross from Prendergast on eighty-one minutes saw Craughwell head straight at the 'keeper. Five minutes later, St. Francis thought they had equalised when a high ball in from Craughwell was contested in the air by Prendergast and the Portlaoise 'keeper. Prendergast got above the 'keeper to head to the net but referee Joe Cassidy disallowed the goal, citing a foul by Prendergast. With just a minute left a long throw-in from Stephen Barr caused pandemonium in the Portlaoise penalty area. St. Francis looked certain to score but somehow the ball was cleared and with that went their last opportunity. ST. FRANCIS: Andrew Lynam, Stephen Barr, Mark Gaughan, JB Boland, Oisin Moore, Darren Harney, Jamie O'Connor, Matthew Carragher, Colin Costello, Kenneth Prendergast, Sam Lawlor. SUBS: James Craughwell for C. Costello (56 mins), Ben Wilson for S. Lawler (61 mins), Enda Keena for M. Gaughan (77 mins). PORTLAOISE: Stuart Dangan, Niall Hoare, Mark Delaney, Eoghan White, Danny Flaherty, Gary O'Sullivan, John Lowry, Stuart O'Sullivan, Martin Staunton, David Houlihan, Jason Bergin. SUBS: Richard Okeyo Agha for D. Houlihan (68 mins), Karl O'Brien for J. Lowry (78 mins).