Villa master Hibs to cement top spot
Villa striker Kieran Sadey sends in a powerful header against Hibs in the Azzurri Premier League. Photos: Paul Elliott
Villa are on course to land four consecutive Azzurri Premier League titles after they proved too good for Hibernians in their meeting on a fine evening for football at Mitchell Kennedy Park on Wednesday evening last.
After looking lethargic in their Munster Champions trophy win over Glin Rovers, Conor Coad’s side were without both Dean Walsh and Adam Conway for this key fixture due to holidays, but it was a penalty save from Craig Dunphy that proved pivotal to the outcome of the contest in the second-half.
Johnny St Ledger was high over the crossbar with an early chance on six minutes when he cracked in a right-footed shot after some good link-up play with Ben Walshe as neither side could grab a foothold on the game early doors.
It was the league champions that struck the front with their meaningful attack when they won a corner-kick out on the right on 19 minutes. Jeff da Silva whipped in a perfect ball to the back post that found the head of Matas Grinius, and he beat Craig Cummins with a close-range header.
There was a chance for Aaron O’Connor to double the lead for his side on 25 minutes when he took a brilliant pass from da Silva out on the right-side, but the attacker fired a right-footed shot into the sidenetting at Cummins’ near post.
Jeff da Silva was back in the thick of the action for his side three minutes later when he intercepted a loose back pass from Sean O’Keeffe before cutting into the area, but his left-footed effort arrowed for the far corner came back off the butt of the post.
Mark McManus had a half chance for the hosts on 40 minutes when he reacted quickest to a Johnny St Ledger delivery from the left, but the ball just wouldn’t come down properly for the centre-half as his effort was blocked away for a fruitless corner.
There was panic stations in the Hibernians defence at the other end two minutes later when their former player Conor Whittle sent in a teasing cross from the left that picked out the run of O’Connor that saw his deflected effort come back of the woodwork.
Conor Coad’s side were dealt a massive blow on 48 minutes when midfielder and player of the year Luke Walsh was forced with an ankle injury to be replaced by Shane Keenan, who did well for his first appearance in the Premier League this campaign.
It was route one that saw the workLAB Connors Park outfit double their lead on 50 minutes. Craig Dunphy’s clearance following the restart of play saw the ball fall nicely for Conor Kilgannon, and the son of their main sponsor Seamus, applied the perfect finish past Sean Whitty, who replaced Cummins.
Dunphy came to the rescue of his side eight minutes later as the home side were awarded a penalty by referee Gary Fitzgerald. Antonio Petrovic was tripped in the area by Kilgannon for a stonewall spot-kick, but the Villa netminder guessed right to save Johnny St Ledger’s 12-yarder that lacked power.
James Kennedy went close to adding a third goal for his side on 67 minutes when he fired wide at the back post after good work from O’Connor before a third goal did arrive for his side six minutes from time. Conor Kilgannon took Kennedy’s pass down the right before crossing to the centre for Mike Nzongong to finish.
Craig Cummins (Sean Whitty 46), Craig Keane, Sean O’Keeffe, Cormac Ryan (David Adebayo 71), Mark McManus, Nicol de Nitto (Daire O’Keeffe 76), Adham Masood, Jason Keane, Antonio Petrovic (Dylan Butler 71), Johnny St. Ledger, Ben Walshe (David Cooley 59).
Craig Dunphy, James Kennedy, John Tamen, Luke Walsh (Shane Keenan 48), Conor Kilgannon (Shane O’Brien 85), Conor Whittle, Aaron O’Connor, Jeff da Silva (Kieran Sadey 68), Matas Grinius, Alex Phelan (Mike Nzongong 38), Dylan Walsh (Dylan Stickel 60).
Gary Fitzgerald assisted by Richie Brazil and Noel Purcell.
