Umbro Division 1A
St Joseph's 1   Tramore Rangers 1

Matt Keane

Table-toppers Tramore Rangers remain six points clear of St Joseph's in Division 1A following this tough encounter which was played at a rain-swept Williamstown on Saturday, January 28. 
The men from The Orchard men are five points clear of second-placed Abbeyside and they are without doubt the team to catch as the race for promotion to the Premier League reaches the business end. 
Gary Morrissey put Rangers on front after an hour and it looked as if that goal would be enough to stretch their lead at the top but St Joseph's refused to throw in the towel and they grabbed an equaliser with five minutes remaining courtesy of an excellent effort from Ian Galgey. 
On the overall run of play a share of the spoils was perhaps a fair result and although they will be disappointed not to have held on for the victory, Tramore Rangers will be happy enough with the point because the Saints have been their bogey team in recent seasons. 
The home side went close after three minutes when Cian Chester squared the ball to Ian Galgey but he dragged his shot across the Rangers goal. Cian Chester was involved once again on 17 minutes, this time rising high to meet a right-wing cross from fullback Ger Quinlan but Killian Burns held the ball under his crossbar. 
The same two players combined on 31 minutes but this time Chester was off target with his first time shot. As the weather deteriorated the play became rather sloppy, but blame could not be placed on the players due to the wind and rain. 
Tramore Rangers went for the jugular when the second period got underway and when Chris Flynn played in Eoin Purcell a goal looked on but Billy Ryan got in a timely tackle to prevent the opening goal of the game. 

The Rangers' pressure paid of on the hour mark, however. Cathal Duffy released the ball to Simon Keane who in turn released Gary Morrissey and the visiting No 8 rounded the St Joseph's goalkeeper Ross Galvin and placed the ball into an empty net.  
Galvin was a late replacement between the St Joseph's posts because regular netminder Ruari Sheridan broke his finger in the pre-match warm-up. The home side came on strong during the remainder of the contest and their big physical back four came forward at every opportunity in an attempt to grab an equaliser but the Tramore Rangers defence held firm until  five minutes remaining when they were unhinged by the Saints. 
David Flynn and Clive Power combined out on the right and when Power picked out Ian Galgey, the St Joseph's striker gave Killian Burns no chance with a delightful volley from just inside the penalty area. Two minutes later Cathal Duffy almost regained the lead for Rangers but after taking a pass from Eoin Purcell he was just off-target with a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area. 

St Joseph's: Ross Galvin, Stephen Roche, Ger Quinlan, Jay Ryan, Billy Ryan, Noel Flynn, Michael Grant, James Manning, Cian Chester, Ian Galgey, Ritchie Burke. Subs. David Flynn for Manning (42 mins), Clive Power for Grant (56), Brian Power for Burke (73).

Tramore Rangers: Killian Burns, David Jacob, Chris Kirk, Simon Keane, Gary Whelan, Alan Harringhton, Chris Flynn, Gary Morrissey, Eoin Purcell, Mark Hannigan, James Legg. Subs: Cathal Duffy for Jacob (52 mins), Stephen Sawyer for Harringhton (73).

Referee: Noel Purcell. 


                                                                                                                  Photos by Noel Browne

PURT’S PURPLE PATCH CRUSHES KILMAC'

Two great results for Tramore Rangers’ first and second division sides kept their respective title ambitions on course at home and away on Saturday afternoon (Jan 28).
Eoin Purcell was the undisputed star man, showing arch opportunism to score four times in a clinical 20-minute first-half spell in the 1As' 6-2 win against Kilmac’ at The Orchard.
James Legg, Alan Harrington and Gary Morrissey were terrific in midfield as we bamboozled the visitors with our one and two-touch passing, and Purt was coolness personified in bringing his season total to 13.
Five minutes into the second period Kilmac’ pulled one back but Daithi Purcell restored our advantage when he picked the ball up out on the left before advancing to fire a finish into the bottom corner for No5. A definite case of “Take it Out!”
Jamesy put a fine delivery over from the left for the sixth, with Chris Flynn coming in at the far post to find the net.
Another terrific three points by Joe Williams’ men, then, to consolidate pole position ahead of a crunch game (aren't they all) against St Josephs away next Saturday.

THREE FOR TABLE-TOPPING TWOS

The 2B team were also celebrating after a 3-1 away victory over Johnville.
Johnny Harris opened the scoring on 15 minutes when his speculative effort deceived the home keeper. We spurned some good chances after that, and Johnville equalised. It remained one apiece until a quarter-of-an-hour to go. Niall Jackman put in a lovely cross to which Drew Keating added a flick and Thomas Brett, who was terrific after coming on with 30 minutes to go, was in the right place to make it 2-1.
Having pretty much huffed and puffed to little effect until then, we looked a lot more comfortable after that and Niall Farrell sealed the win. Picking up a poor clearance, he laid the ball out wide to Drew who centred it towards Brettso whose clever dummy left Farley back in to calmly slot home.
With second-placed Hibs losing, the outfit managed by Mark Dunphy and Derek Farrell are now five points to the good at the summit, having played a game more. Four BIG ones to go.

Umbro Division 1A
Villa 1 Rangers 6

By Matt Keane

Tramore Rangers have gone clear at the top of Division 1A following this facile victory in Connors Park on Saturday afternoon. This was their fourth game of the campaign and they have scored an incredible 21 goals. They started the season by beating Grannagh 4-1 away and followed up that success by defeating Johnville 4-3 in a thriller at The Orchard and last time out hammered Kilmacthomas 7-2 at Alaska Park. This is a very strong, talented and extremely fit Rangers outfit and there is no doubt whatsoever that the Premier League is their target. There is not a weak link in their team, and they will take some catching if they continue to score so freely.
Straight from the opening whistle Rangers took the game to their hosts and went close after 3 minutes when Alan Harrington let fly from 15 yards but the Villa defender Wayne Robinson deflected the ball out at the expense of a corner kick. Cathal Duffy was the next Rangers player to try his luck but his well-struck shot went narrowly over the crossbar. 
It was only a matter of time before the visitors scored and the goal arrived on 14 minutes. Stephen Sawyer sent over a cross from the right and when the ball broke to Simon Power he turned smartly inside the area and slotted home his seventh league goal of the season. 
Stephen Murphy had Villa's first attempt on goal in the 21st minute but his left-footed strike went well wide. Rangers took total control after that and scored three goals within the space of six minutes. Stephen O'Gorman played a short free kick to Stephen Sawyer on 37 minutes and the left winger found the net with a blistering drive from the edge of the penalty area. Two minutes later Sawyer turned provider for Eoin Purcell who clipped the ball over the advancing Villa goalkeeper Cian McDonagh from 16 yards range. 
On 43 minutes Kevin Kelly fouled Sawyer inside the box and Simon Power sent the Villa keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Beyond doubt

Jason Cleere, a second-half substitute, went close with a header for the Villa not long after the change of ends but he had to look on as his attempt went inches wide. Rangers  scored their fifth on 54 minutes. Simon Power found Gary Morrissey with a delightful pass and the latter coolly clipped the ball past the advancing Cian McDonagh. 
Rangers made it six when Stephen Sawyer calmly slid the ball home the left side of the penalty area after rounding McDonagh who came racing off his line for some reason best known to himself. 
Four minutes later Danny Sheridan scored from a penalty for the Villa after a shot from Tony O'Brien was adjudged to have been handled by O'Gorman, but it was merely a small consolation goal for the homesters, who were run ragged all afternoon. 
Next up for the league leaders is a home game against St Joseph's on Saturday, always a keenly-contested fixture.

Villa: Cian McDonagh, Paul Mates, Danny Sheridan, Wayne Robinson, Paddy Fitzgerald, David McCaffrey, Kevin Kelly, Stephen Murphy, Jack Gaule, John Hale, Paddy Davis. Subs: Jason Cleere for Davis (H-T), Tony O'Brien for Murphy (62 mins), Adam Walsh for Hale (70).

Tramore Rangers: Killian Burns, Stephen O'Gorman, Chris Kirk, Cathal Duffy, Gary Whelan, Alan Harrington, James Legg, Gary Morrissey, Simon Power, Eoin Purcell, Stephen Sawyer. Subs: Mark Hannigan for Harrington (64 mins), Daithi Purcell for Eoin Purcell (70), Chris Flynn for Sawyer (77).

Referee: Anthony Walsh.