St. BernardÕs are back in winning groove Ð at last!

Mike Rafferty

NEWLY promoted St Bernard’s must have thought they were in dreamland when they won their opening three games of the season in the Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division, but it has taken them four months since to register another league victory.

Sunday’s 3-0 drubbing of West United has got them back to winning ways and positioned them in a much more comfortable fourth place in the table. A number of draws throughout that spell kept them in touch in mid table and what has been particularly impressive is their goals against column which has seen them concede just 11 goals from ten games to date.

Contrast this with second from bottom Salthill Devon who have leaked 29 goals in the same amount of games. Against a struggling West side, Bernard’s made the perfect start when Dwaine Finn headed them in front after just five minutes with a back post header following a Jason Finn corner. Enjoying the opening half wind advantage, they continued to do the majority of the pressing but struggled to bypass veteran custodian Tony Cooke.

The resumption saw the City side seize the initiative, but they too found a goalkeeper Conor Ruane in top form and a number of smart stops kept the visitors at bay. Defending well, the Abbeyknockmoy men were content with their lot, but midway through the half a rapid counter attack saw the pacey Jason Finn take off from half way and he made it 2-0 with a smart finish into the top corner.

In the closing stages, the home side added a third with Matt Finn and Eddie Tracey providing the assists as Mark Finn applied the near post finish on this occasion.

Elsewhere Premier League leaders Mervue United scored three opening half goals through Ger McGrath, Colie Kelly and Stephen Cunningham to give them a comfortable 3-0 margin over Salthill Devon in Drom. A Charlie Burke spot kick saved by Ryan Griffin was the closest the home side went to a second half recovery.

FIRST DIVISIONEast United were another side who registered a comfortable win in the First Division as goals by Martin McDonagh, Kenny Lydon and Christian Ryan helped the leaders increase their advantage over the chasing pack with a 3-0 victory over Colga. 

St Patrick’s found themselves two down away to Crumlin following the early exchanges, but a smart recovery saw them eventually run out 5-3 winners. Adrian Murphy finished off a Noel Glynn set piece to kickstart the recovery and Padraig Reilly levelled matters before the break.

The second half saw the visitors pull away as Enda Conneely, Ronan Conneely and Rory Glynn all found the net.

DIVISION TWOKinvara United failed to take the opportunity to pull clear at the top of the Second Division when going down by 2-1 at home to Kiltullagh. Though goalkeeper Gary Kavanagh almost denied him, a Noel Kelly penalty putting the visitors ahead in the opening half, but Dulta Griffin levelled matters with an effort into the bottom corner to tie it up before the break.

With the home side struggling to create much, it fell to Kiltullagh’s Eamonn Cleary to finish off a Tommy Madden cross for a close range winner in the second half.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.