CARLOW CLASS PREVAILS AS GRIFFITH FALL IN BOB EUSTACE CUP

GRIFFITH COLLEGE DUBLIN …………… 2

CARLOW COLLEGE-ST PATRICK’S ……4

A first win of the season couldn’t have come more sweetly for Carlow College-St Patrick’s at Crumlin with a solid 4-2 Colleges FAI Eustace Cup first round victory over unbeaten Griffith College Dublin.

Head Coach Lucy O’Hora was overjoyed with seeing her charges finally get off the mark with this shock win over an inform Griffith side who had recorded straight wins in their Division Four campaign.

**TACTICAL SUCCESS: St Patricks’s College Carlow Head Coach Lucy O’Hora.**

Unfortunately Griffith had to do without top players Drogheda United goalkeeper Colin McCabe and Crumlin United forward Dean Sutcliffe both unavailable for the game.

By JOHN HUDSON

Carlow seized the opportunity to cause a shock and were quick off the mark going ahead on seven minutes with Craig Anderson heading home a Jeffrey McCarthy corner.

The early set back jolted Griffith and they regained their composure to first equalise and then go in front within the next 15 minutes.

First off Ronan Farrell had them back on terms with a finish from close in after being set up by Benjami Ducot.

Minutes later Diago Bastos beat goalkeeper Martin Kennedy with a fierce drive after winning possession on the edge of the box.

However Carlow continued to stay well in the game and got themselves level before the break when impressive defender Kevin Kelly coolly slotted a penalty past Alex Ruyters after Kevin O’Neill had been taken down in the box.

The visitors then took the lead on the hour with a fine individual effort from winger McCarthy who picked up a stray pass about 25 yards out and skipped past several defenders to place a low finish past a helpless Ruyters.

Despite late pressure from Griffith they found it difficult to get past a well set up Carlow outfit although Battalga Ayush was unlucky to see a decent effort charged down.

A welcome win was sealed in the closing minutes when Mark Canavan beat Ruyters with his well taken penalty after he was fouled himself to send O'Hora and her side home happy.

Griffith College Dublin: Alex Ruyters; Midel Finke, Josche Ganter, Christian Simon, Gustavo Marques; Coratin Lageier, Benjami Ducot, Chizy Awaegu, Battalga Ayush; Ronan Farrell, Diago Bastos.

Subs:Denis Diler (for Ayush 40), Kia Ruilw Agrba (for Marques ht), Etam Kantar (for Lageier72), Michael Dawodu (for Bastos 80).

Carlow College-St Patrick’s: Martin Kennedy; Aaron Ferguson, Tom Harte, Kevin Kenny, Lorcan Canavan; Jamie Behan, Michael Simpson; Craig Anderson, Mark Canavan, Jeffrey McCarthy; Kevin O‘Neill.

Subs: Nathan Pace (for Simpson 25), Dyan O’Connor (for O’Neill 78), Sean Larkin (for Ferguson 85).