Classy Clonaslee coast past Abbeyleix

Clonaslee United eased past Abbeyleix Athletic on Sunday morning with a comfortable 3-1 home win. Bob Downey on the left wing was the star of the show, scoring two goals – one a penalty and one a piece of individual brilliance.

Clonaslee were in complete control for the opening twenty minutes, dominating possession and seemingly having free reign of the game. They were creating plenty of chances, attacking down the wings as well as using long balls over the top.

Clonaslee United 3 

Abbeyleix Athletic 1

On a very cold December morning, Abbeyleix goalkeeper, Rory Nevin might even have been thankful for the workload as he was at least kept warm. The Abbeyleix back three of Lee Maher, Ross Coffey and Dean Byrne were also kept busy by Clonaslee’s relentless attack. 

Cian Callaghan had a big chance on the 23rd minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Edward Corbett then hit the upright with a great chance at the back post. 

Abbeyleix were struggling to get out of their own half and Clonaslee finaly broke the deadlock on the half hour mark. Cian Callaghan picked up the ball about 25 yards in front of the Abbeyleix goal and struck an absolute screamer into the top corner of Rory Nevin’s net. 

Clonaslee kept up the pressure after the goal with Corbett coming close twice. He fizzed the ball across the face of goal but neither Joe McRedmond or JJ Kennedy could get on the end of it. 

It was a great defensive effort from Abbeyleix to keep Clonaslee to just one goal. The hosts will have been bitterly disappointed not to have had a stronger lead at the break. 

Joel Amoakoh came on at half time but lasted less than sixty seconds before an injury forced him off, replaced by Scott Pearson. 

The visitors had their shot of the game in the 51st minute; Colin Rowan hitting the crossbar with a great free kick. Rowan was Abbeyleix’s best player on the day. He constantly tried to make things happen but simply did not get any purchase.

Clonaslee, however, wasted no time getting the ball out to Bob Downey who dribbled past two defenders and finished off a wonderful individual goal, beating Nevin at his near post to make it 2-0. 

Abbeyleix came into the game after the goal and began to press, finally beginning to create some chances. Alex Westbrook drew a great save from Clonaslee goalkeeper, Seamus Rosney on the hour mark. Ben Freeman then came close from a corner kick but his header was cleared off the line. 

Colin Powders came on for Ross Coffey with 25 minutes to play as the visitors looked to change things, going from 3-5-2 to a more attack-minded 4-3-3.

But the game was put to bed in the 72nd minute when Lee Maher was adjudged to have fouled Jack Owens in the box. Bob Downey stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past Nevin to make it 3-0. 

Credit to Abbeyleix, they kept pushing for a goal right to the end and got their reward in the final moments when Alex Westbrook finished off a good counter attack to turn the ball into the Clonaslee net. 

It came from a lapse of concentration from the home side, who were visibly annoyed to have lost conceded their clean sheet. But they were fully deserving of the three points and overtake Abbeyleix into fourth in the Division 1 table. 

Clonaslee Utd:

Goals: Bob Downey (x2, 1 Pen), Cian Callaghan

Team: Seamus Rosney, DJ Callaghan, Patrick Purcell, Jack Owens, Josh Flynn, John Rigney, Cian Callaghan, Bob Downey, Joe McRedmond, Edward Corbett, JJ Kennedy. Subs: Daire Hogan (70 mins for J. Flynn), James McRedmond (70 mins for J. McRedmond), Niall Foynes (80 mins for J. Kennedy)

Abbeyleix Ath:

Goals: Alex Westbrook

Team: Rory Nevin, Lee Maher, Ross Coffey, Dean Byrne, Darren Bowe, Ben Freeman, Colin Rowan, Adam Broady, Aaron O’Dea, Alex Westbrook, Jamie Strafford. Subs: Joel Amoakoh (HT for D. Bowe), Scott Pearson (46 mins for J. Amoakoh), Colin Powders (67 mins for R. Coffey)