Gallen overpower St Peter’s despite best efforts of Dolan

The resumption of play in the CCFL after the recent winter break saw St Peter's youths slump to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Gallen United at McCarthy Park last on the bank holiday Monday earlier this week. Having been outplayed by Gallen for a sizeable chunk of the first half, the home side managed to find themselves, courtesy of a Ryan Canning penalty, a goal to the good going in at the break. But the second half saw a dramatic change in their fortunes as Gallen finally found the goals they were threatening to score in the first half and pushed on for a much-deserved win. The result sees Peter's remain rooted to the bottom of the CCFL Youths Division 1 table with no wins and just two draws in six games, while the three points earned by Gallen sees them keep pace with both Grange United and Mullingar Athletic in the race for promotion to the Premier Division. Gallen flew out of the blocks on Monday, taking the game straight to the home side and should have had the lead inside five minutes when a long ball over the top saw Darragh Keenaghan out-pace Mark Hewitt in a race for the ball before tapping it around the keeper only to put the ball wide with the goal gaping. Just a minute later, Keenaghan beat his man coming in along the end-line from the left before squaring to Shane Costello. Costello met the ball first time but saw his effort superbly blocked by Conor Dolan, the Peter's 'keeper pulling off the first of many fine saves throughout the afternoon. With eight minutes gone, however, Dolan was at fault for holding on to the ball for too long. But the resultant in-direct free kick was blasted over the bar by Costello after Blaine Rigney had rolled it back to him. Nineteen minutes in, another decent chance fell to the Ferbane side. A Costello corner-kick was swung in from the right and, after a poor clearing header, fell at the feet of Declan Cooney. But Cooney dragged his shot wide of the mark when he really ought to have at least hit the target. With 20 minutes elapsed Peter's had barely threatened the Gallen goal but, on 25, they were awarded the chance to take the lead, very much against the run of play. Going in strongly on the left wing, full-back Brendan Behan's challenge saw the ball fly in behind the Gallen defence where James Farrell latched on to it. Declan Cooney was the Gallen player who went to challenge the Peter's winger and although he seemed to come away with the ball, referee Paul Tone adjudged that he had done so illegally and a penalty was awarded. Ryan Canning accepted the responsibility of putting his side into the lead and he did just that with an unerring spotkick, giving Colm Kelly little chance. Thereafter, the wind seemed to have been knocked out of Gallen as the home side began to control on the game. But still they struggled to create any decent opportunities and as the half entered its closing stages, Gallen began to reassert their authority. With two minutes of normal time to play, Conor Dolan pulled off yet another superb block, denying Shane Costello from close range for the second time. But there was better to come from the in-form 'keeper. Picking the ball up on the right wing, Gallen's Declan Cooney skipped inside a St Peter's challenge before running right at the heart of the Athlone side's defence. A neat one-two was played with Keenaghan on the edge of the box before Cooney unleashed a fierce effort that seemed destined to nestle in the back of the St. Peter's net. And it would have done but for Dolan who sprang athletically to his right to pull off a magnificent one-handed save to preserve his side's one-goal advantage going into the break. Gallen step up a gear Upon the resumption, the lead didn't last much longer, however, just 39 seconds to be exact. Darragh Keenaghan started the move down the left wing, playing Costello in to the by-line where he beat his man before squaring to Steve Wren. Wren took his time before coolly rolling the ball back across the goal to the far corner of the net. Ten minutes later, Gallen had the lead when a perfect through ball chipped forward by the outstanding Blaine Rigney was trapped expertly by Costello, who proceeded to round the 'keeper before rolling home to the empty net. And Gallen reinforced their fantastic start to the second half ten minutes after that when Rigney was felled in the area by Mark Hewitt – a definite penalty. Up stepped Costello to fire home his second of the day and put daylight between the two sides. As the game petered out to its inevitable conclusion, all the home side could muster up were a few long-range efforts from Phillip Lennon. That was until, with three minutes to go, they threw a spanner in the works. A shot from James Farrell was saved by the leg of Colm Kelly. But the ball looped up in the air and reacting quickest to turn the ball home with his knee was Jamie Grehan. But any hopes of a late Peter's salvage operation were extinguished instantly by a Gallen team now in ruthless mood. From the kick-off the ball was worked forward to the edge of the Peter's penalty area. There, Costello skilfully rolled the ball backwards into the path of Cooney, who hit a rasping first time effort to the top corner of Conor Dolan's net, nearly lifting the net off the posts in the process. It was a perfect way for Gallen to wrap up the points. ST PETER'S: Conor Dolan, Brendan Behan, Peter Coleman, Michael Francis, Thomas Carroll, Mark Hewitt, Jamie Grehan, James Farrell, Teddy Dowling, Ryan Canning, Phillip Lennon. Subs: Ryan Kelly for B. Behan (57'), John Gaynor for R. Canning (57'), Breen Glancy for T. Dowling (75'). GALLEN UNITED: Colm Kelly, Dean Tierney, James Nally, Ger Keenaghan, Darren Kelly, Shane Costello, Steve Wren, Declan Cooney, Blaine Rigney, Darragh Keenaghan, Alan Cannon.Subs: PJ Kidney for A. Cannon (75'), Jamie Green for B. Rigney (75'), Darragh Fitzgerald for D. Keenaghan (79'). REFEREE: Paul Tone.