Culliton’s goals and Keogh’s saves decisive as Mountmellick defeat Park-Ratheniska to reach Division 2 final

Mountmellick 3-12 Park-Ratheniska 1-10
ACFL Division 2 Semi-final

Mountmellick have advanced to the Dvision 2 final following an eighth point victory over Park-Ratheniska this evening.

Two goals from Finn Culliton proved crucial in the end while Mountmellick keeper Eoghan Keogh also pulled off some big saves at vital times.

Niall Mullen and Kieran Delaney swapped points in the opening stages of the game.

Park-Ratheniska had most of the possession in the first quarter and they had multiple goal chances saved by Eoghan Keogh in the goal to keep Mountmellick in the game.

Mark Delany (45) and Kieran Delaney pointed to give Park-Ratheniska a two point lead.

Moments later, a high ball was played into Stephen Knowles and he laid the ball to oncoming Mark Delaney. He was fouled in the area and his twin brother Kieran stepped up to but his penalty was expertly saved by Eoghan Keogh.

Park-Ratheniska continued to dominate though and edged further ahead via Kieran Delaney and Mark Delany – 0-5 to 0-1

However, Mountmellick then scored a goal against the run of play when Finn Culliton found Cian McCann on the edge of the box and McCann blasted the ball home.

Park-Ratheniska replied immediately with a goal of their own. Sean Tynan and Richie Hitchcock combined to setup Darragh Nolan for the goal.

Seven minutes before halftime, Mountmellick made a tactical substitute that changed the game.

Gearoid Hanrahan replaced John Noonan and he went to full back which shifted several players up the field and that enabled Colm Coss to move to centre forward.

Coss became very influential and Park-Ratheniska found it difficult to curtail his influence on the game.

Mountmellick finished the half on top as points from Mullen and Coss put two between the sides before they took the lead with their second goal of the game.

Mountmellick were awarded a free just outside the box and Finn Culliton took it quickly and drove the ball into the corner of the net.

Niall Mullen scored another point just before the interval to give Mountmellick a two point lead at halftime – 2-4 to 1-5.

Colm Coss got the second half underway with a point before Kieran Delaney responded with a brace to keep Park-Ratheniska in touch.

But Mullen and Coss were deadly in front of goal which allowed Mountmellick to extend their lead.

The pair kicked three points in a row to give them a four point lead over their opponents at the second water break – 2-9 to 1-8.

The game was then put to bed in the latter stages of the half. Cian McCann’s looping effort for point caused a scramble for possession in the box.

The ball eventually landed at the feet of Finn Culliton and he tapped it into the net for his second goal of the game.

Mountmellick will now face Rosenallis in the decider in the coming weeks.

SCORERS – Mountmellick: Niall Mullen 0-7 (five frees), Finn Culliton 2-0, Colm Coss 0-5 Cian McCann 1-0 Park-Ratheniska: Kieran Delaney 0-7 (three frees), Darragh Nolan 1-0, Mark Delaney 0-2 (45), Sean Tierney 0-1

MOUNTMELLICK: Eoghan Keogh; Bernard Rochford, Ger Reddin, Redmond McEvoy; Darren McDermott, Darren Fitzpatrick, Kai Byrne; Stephen Lynch, Colm Coss; Niall Mullen, John Noonan, Mark Dowling; Finn Culliton, Cian McCann, Darragh Hanlon. Subs: Gearoid Hanrahan for Noonan (23), Shane Dowling for Reddin (50), Tadhg Culliton for Hanlon (45), John Connolly for McCann (59)

PARK-RATHENISKA: Patrick Kelly; James Newell, Mark Delaney, Benny Greene; Marc Ramsbottom, Benny Dowling, Jimmy Langton; Richie Hitchcock, Mark Delany; Sean Tierney, Kieran Delaney, Josh Mulhall; Darragh Nolan, Sean Tynan, Stephen Knowles. Subs: Cialann Barry for Ramsbottom (29, inj), Noah Ramsbottom for Nolan (43)

Referee: Eric Ward (Portarlington)

SEE ALSO – Ten point win for Rosenallis seals Division 2 league final place

The post Culliton’s goals and Keogh’s saves decisive as Mountmellick defeat Park-Ratheniska to reach Division 2 final appeared first on Laois Today.

source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/07/28/cullitons-goals-and-keoghs-saves-decisive-as-mountmellick-defeat-park-ratheniska-to-reach-division-2-final/