CBL GOTW: Late Noonan leveller decides thriller in Mayfield

ePower East Cork Athletic 2 – 2 FR Valley Rangers

Man of the Match: Ben O’Conner (FR Valley Rangers)

It was an exciting encounter in Mayfield Utd Park as a John Noonan brace including a late equaliser earned a point for FR Valley Rangers in a 2-2 draw against ePower East Cork Athletic in their CBL NoSin Second Division fixture, writes Donncha Noonan

It was a fast start to the game for East Cork Athletic as they took the lead after six minutes. Josh Dempsey played a great one-two with Cillian Carroll, with the latter sprinting down the line and cutting it back to the penalty spot for the oncoming Ryan Murray, who buried the ball into the back of the net to give his side the lead.

Valley Rangers were only buoyed by the goal and grabbed an equaliser six minutes later. Ben O’Connor took aim from a long range free kick. His shot was on target and had to be parried by Shane Cahill, which allowed John Noonan to sweep in and tuck away the rebound to level the game.

Valley Rangers continued their momentum and almost took the lead in the thirty seventh minute. A short free kick from East Cork went wrong and a long ball from the opponents started the counter. It was Eoin Doyle who was released through on goal. He tried to guide the ball around Jaydan O’Connor, but the keeper was able to gather the shot.

That was all the first half, as a tightly contested game was all level at the halfway point.

It was more of the same from both sides in the second half as the game continued to be end to end. Despite this, the first big moment of the half wouldn’t come until the seventy ninth minute, and it was East Cork that took the lead from it. A long free kick into the box from Peader Gilroy was whipped into the box, where Jaydan O’Connor tried to punch clear. O’Connor couldn’t get clean contact on it as the ball looped to the back post where it found Daragh Bagnell Harnett who headed home to restore East Cork’s lead. 

Their lead wouldn’t last long, as Valley Rangers were awarded a penalty and a chance to equalise in the eight fourth minute, after a collision between Ben O’Connor and goalkeeper Shane Cahill in the box. It was John Noonan who stepped up to take it and he buried the penalty for both his and his side’s second of the game.

There was more controversy to come though, as two minutes later Valley Rangers forward Daniel Turley was shown a straight red card after a late challenge.

Ultimately though, East Cork couldn’t avail of their man advantage as a brilliant end to end game in Mayfield ended all square between ePower East Cork Athletic and FR Valley Rangers.

ePower East Cork Athletic: S. Cahill, R. Birdthistle, P. Gilroy, C. Byrne, F. Crowley, C. Carroll, K. Mulcahy, D. Bagnell Harnett, R. Sexton, J. Dempsey, R. Murray, A. Bell, L. McRae, J. Foley.

FR Valley Rangers: J. O’Connor, B. O’Sullivan, S. Mangan, I. Ohrin, K. Cotter, B. O’Connor, A. Carr, J. Noonan, E. Doyle, T. Harnett, C. Doyle, A. Carr, J. Carr, A. O’Mahony, D. Turley, C. Whelan.