Ballynanty Secure First League win of the Season over Mungret

Ballynanty Rovers picked up a convincing 5-1 home victory against Mungret Regional at Limerick Institute of Technology on Sunday morning to open their account for the season. Cian Fitzgerald, Cian Power, Habideen Gbedebo (x2) and Conor Keane scored the goals for the home side while Eoin Ryan responded for Mungret.

Ballynanty made five changes from the side who narrowly lost to Pike Rovers on the opening night with Cian Fitzgerald, Cian Power, Dylan Higgins, Dermot Fitzgerald and Aaron Power replacing Seamus Maloney, Aidan Hurley, Conor Keane, Eddie and Liam Byrnes. Mungret also made five changes from the side who lost to Carew Park with Donie Curtin, Dylan Frawley, Stephen O’Dwyer, Eoghan Kelly and Gary Kelly replacing Craig Prendergast, Josh O’Rahilly, David Conway, Mark Patterson and Pa Ahern.

Ballynanty started quickly as the lively Gbadebo closed down a hesitant Aaron Long and forced a save from James Roche at the near post. In the opening ten minutes, Dave Dunphy’s side exerted a lot of pressure, winning several corners and it ended in a shot travelling wide from Thomas Byrnes. Following a clearance from the home side, Dylan Fralwey collected the second ball and set up captain Cian McNicholas whose strike went wide.

Moments later, Richie Burke’s side nearly took the lead as McNicholas’ corner was flicked on to the back post but neither Gary Kelly or Donie Curtin could could connect at the back post. As we approached the half hour mark, a long ball over the top allowed Gbedebo to go through but Roche blocked the effort. However, Mungret failed to clear and Gbadebo passed to Cian Fitzgerald who finished into an empty net.

A five minute spell at the end of the first half effectively put the game beyond the visitors. Winger Dylan Higgins played a superb cross-field pass to Adrian Power whose perfectly waited cross was buried by Cian Power to double their advantage. Just one minute later, Gbedebo extended Ballynanty’s lead further as he latched onto a ball in behind before beating two players on the byline and finishing past Roche.

Richie Burke made four half-time changes in an attempt to turn the tide introducing David Conway, Mark Patterson, Josh O’Rahilly and Pa Ahern to proceedings.

However, any plans the Mungret manager had went out the window when just five minutes into the second period Gbedebo scored his second of the game when he outmuscled Aled Harkin who had switched to centre-back, before slotting past Roche. To their credit, Mungret responded immediately and Eoin Ryan powered home a header from an Ahern free-kick.

The pace of the game slowed down at this point with Ballynanty introducing a number of substitutes and it was one of these subs who added a fifth when former Treaty United U-19 player Conor Keane received possession from Higgins before cutting inside and curling past the helpless Roche. With five minutes remaining, Ahern forced a great save from Stephen McNamara.

Ken Gorman brought a halt to proceedings and Ballynanty will now turn their attentions to a clash with Carew Park on Thursday night. Mungret will host Charleville as they look for their first points of the campaign.

Ballynanty Rovers: Stephen McNamara, Daragh Hughes, Dermot Fitzgerald (Josh Adams 59), Adam Costelloe, Aaron Power (Rhian O’Connell 66), Thomas Byrnes (Dave Donnan 54), Cian Fitzgerald, Adrian Power (Eddie Radcliffe 74), Cian Power, Habideen Gbedebo (Conor Keane), Dylan Higgins

Mungret Regional: James Roche, Conor Myers, Aaron Long (Mark Patterson H/T), Eoin Ryan, Donie Curtin, Aled Harkin, Dylan Frawley (Dave Conway H/T), Gary Kelly (Josh O’Rahilly H/T), Stephen O’Dwyer (Sean O’Sullivan 62), Eoghan Kelly (Pa Ahern H/T), Cian McNicholas