Fairview Rangers Continue Winning Start to Season

Fairview Rangers continued their winning start to the Premier Division season with a huge 5-0 victory over Regional United at the Fairgreen, A hattrick from Connor Ellis and a goal apiece for Daragh Rainsford and Ben O’Shaughnessy completed the rout for the home side.

Both sides arrived into this game with 100% records with Fairview beating Coonagh, Nenagh and received a walkover against Prospect while Regional beat both Nenagh and Prospect. Fairview started with a 4-3-3 Steven Bradley sitting deeper than both Shane Duggan and AJ O’Connor. Rainsford and Conor Coughlan started on the right and left wing respectively either side of Ellis.

Regional started with a 3-5-2 with youngster Conor Finn given the task of marshalling Ellis and Andy Cowpar and Tommy Frawley also in the defence. The visitors created the first chance of the game as O’Connor’s header landed at the feet of Kieran O’Connell and the midfielder’s volley flashed over the crossbar.

After just ten minutes of play, Fairview took the lead and it would be a sign of things to come with Rainsford afforded far too much time and space to drive at the Regional defence before striking to the net. Both Regional wingers Felip Mostowy and Hugo O’hAnluian were playing high up the pitch which allowed Rainsford and Coughlan to run directly at Cowpar and Frawley with Fairview gaining a lot of joy.

After 15 minutes, Eoin Duff nodded the ball into the path of Mostowy but the winger’s effort was high and wide. However, lackadaisical defending from the visitors allowed Ellis to get in behind and double Fairview’s advantage and his tally for the season.

Paul Danaher’s team were in full swing at this point and O’Connor’s perfectly waited pass to Rainsford was dragged wide by the former Limerick FC man. Fairview full-back Scott Kirwan made a good overlapping run on the left and his cross was flicked into the path of Ellis whose near post effort was pushed away by Rob Shier.

Just before half-time, Rainsford’s long range shot travelled wide and Ellis had a header sail over the bar as the home side looked to kill the game as a contest. At the beginning of the second half, Fairview put the game beyond their opponents as Rainsford’s cross from the right was powerfully headed into the back of the net by Ellis.

It was through that avenue that the home side created their next chance as Rainford’s back post delivery was met by Coughlan but he couldn’t direct his effort on target. Despite leading well, it did not quell Fairview’s desire to win the ball back and Bradley won the ball deep in the opposition half before passing to Coughlan. The winger’s ball to Shane Duggan allowed the midfielder to square the ball for Ellis to complete his hattrick.

At this point, Danaher was able to empty the bench and brought on Dave Hannon, Shane O’Brien and Ben O’Shaughnessy with the latter getting on the score sheet in fine style. Substitute Jeffrey Judge received the ball and fed Ellis and a series of one touch football between the striker Ellis, Coughlan and O’Shaughnessy resulted in the latter neatly finishing past Shier to cap off a fine display by the Munster Junior Cup winners.

Fairview will now turn their attention to an away tie against Janesboro at Pearse Stadium on Thursday while Regional travel to face Coonagh United.

Fairview Rangers: Aaron Savage, Wayne Colbert (John Mullane), Jake Dillon, Jason Cross, Scott Kirwan (Shane O’Brien), Steven Bradley, AJ O’Connor (Ben O’Shaughnessy), Shane Duggan (Jeffrey Judge), Daragh Rainsford, Conor Coughlan, Conor Ellis (Dave Hannon)

Regional United: Rob Shier, Tommy Frawley, Conor Finn, Andy Cowpar, Ross Fitzgerald (Luke Ryan), Kieran O’Connell, Brian O’Connor (Shane Carmody), Felip Mostowy, Hugo O’Hanluain (Pat McDonagh), Eoin Duff, Jack Arra