Local Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

A stunning strike by Cian Specht has thrown open the Premier Division title race as struggling Renmore held defending champions Salthill Devon to a draw in Drom on Friday evening and with leaders Colga comfortably seeing off Corrib Celtic, it means the Clarinbridge side have opened up a three point gap at the top of the table.

Elsewhere in the top-flight, Maree-Oranmore maintained their title challenge, as just four points separate the top four as on a weekend when the weather really took its toll, it was only games scheduled for all-weather grounds survived as more than half of the programme was cancelled.

Premier League

Salthill Devon 1

Renmore FC 1

Renmore have been known to upset Salthill Devon in previous title challenges and they did it again on this occasion when a late long-range missile flew into the top corner of the net to tie up matters and in the process gave them a valuable point in their quest to get away from the lower regions of the table.

Stuart Donoghue’s side have not won a game in eight league outings, but they have been working hard, and four draws in their last six games – intermingled with defeats against Colga and Mervue United – makes them competitive, but a first win of the campaign is still awaited.

Indeed they could have got it on this occasion, as they created almost as many opportunities as the home side, but nothing clear-cut was spurned and no doubt they were happy with their achievement.

For some reason, Devon are singing a different tune to times past. The cutting edge appears to be gone and although they were missing some of the personnel that are important to the team, they just appear to be lacking something else also.

Sure, they enjoyed the majority of possession in the game, but while the front three of Colin Kelly, Enda Curran, and Cole Connolly have talent and goals written all over them, their contributions were limited on this occasion.

Probing left and right, the home side offered the early threat, but generally floundered as Keelan Eyers, Ben Creaven and, in front of them, Keith Fitzgerald continuously cleared their lines for Renmore.

Indeed the best chances fell to the visitors and it took a goal line clearance from Paul Scally to deny Renmore the opener on 19 minutes. A long ball saw the impressive Specht get behind the home cover, and while he got a back flick on the ball over the advancing Arek Mamala, Scally was in retreat to clear, as the striker was flattened by the goalkeeper in the process.

Mamala collected a yellow card for his indiscretion, but reacted superbly when Leon Daly’s rebounded free-kick got through the wall and was saved.

The home side made their breakthrough on 28 minutes when a Kelly corner was met in the box by Scally, and his header took a deflection off a covering defender as it entered the net to put the home side 1-0 up.

With Leon Daly, Mark Halligan, and Shane Campbell offering their fair share to the Renmore cause, they almost levelled matters when a Specht pass set up Daly, but he elected to shoot early and his effort was comfortably gathered by the custodian.

Devon almost added a second before the break, but a close-range effort from Calym Crowe clipped a post before going wide; while Curran brought a save from Bullman at his near post.

Indeed for the duration Bullman was an efficient and brave goalkeeper, for on three occasions in the opening half he threw himself at the feet of marauding attackers and emerged with credit on every occasion.

The winter conditions did not deter from the fare on offer, as Devon kept pressing on the resumption, but as Renmore full-backs Dylan Rees and Shane May kept the crosses to the minimum, they were seldom exposed.

Marc Ludden, Shane O’Rourke, and Darren Collins kept Devon on the front foot, but they only rarely threatened to make a breakthrough. Kelly was denied by the advancing Bullman in a one-on-one situation, before Curran directed a Kelly lay off over the crossbar.

Although less threatening, Renmore had their occasional threat in attack and Eyers and Kieran McGinty had efforts blocked in the box just past the hour mark. Specht and Mamala also had another one on one confrontation, when the goalkeeper batted away a threatening effort.

Despite all the effort of both sides, the most memorable moment of the game came on 80 minutes when Specht collected the ball about 30 yards out and just let fly and the outcome saw it zoom into the top corner to tie up matters at 1-1.

“Come on lads, a bit of urgency please” was the roar of home encouragement from the balcony, and in fairness Devon provided all the threat in the closing minutes. However, just a Crowe header that flew over following a Ludden corner threatened a winner, as Renmore held firm and collected a badly needed point.

For Devon, this is a barren spell. Just two points gathered in their most recent games and a heavy loss away to Maree-Oranmore before that. They are in unchartered territory as they trail leaders Colga at the halfway mark of the league season.

Salthill Devon: Mamala, Coyne, Scally, Crowe, Ludden, O’Rourke, D Collins, Fox, Kelly, Curran, Connolly. Substitutes: Halloran, Diala, J Collins, Byrne, Lee, Kinneen, Mulryan.

Renmore: Bullman, Rees, May, Eyers, Creaven, Fitzgerald, Daly, Halligan, Specht, McGinty, Campbell. Substitutes: Walshe, McCann, Greaney, Fahy, Filipe, Connolly, Ayaare.

Referee: Gary Small.

Pictured: Fia O’Connor of Bearna Na Forbacha battles for possesion with Serena Colohan of West United in the Women’s Championship Cup clash between the sides in South Park last weekend. Photos: Joe O’Shaughnessy.