Villa striker Dean's double hat-trick
Villa striker Dean Walsh hit a double hat-trick against St. Brendans in the Munster Junior Cup at workLAB Connors Park on Sunday.
Villa hit St. Brendans of Tralee for six at workLAB Connors Park on Sunday last and it was ace striker Dean Walsh who scored all six goals - quite a remarkable feat - as Villa moved into round five of the Munster Junior Cup.
The Saints had no answer to a Villa side that were rampant from the opening whistle, the visitors also had no answer to Dean Walsh who simply put in a performance that any striker in any grade of football would be proud of.
In the opening minute Villa were on the attack, Aaron O’Connor sent wing back John Tamen away down the left and his cross found the head of Conor Kilgannon but he headed over from six yards.
Villa took the lead on 2 minutes, James Kennedy overlapped down the right and his cross was met by Dean Walsh who scored from close range.
Minutes later Conor Whittle played the ball over the top for Dean Walsh but Saints defender Finn O’Neill got across to make a goalsaving block. At the other end Saints striker Rodgigo Pinho beat the Villa defence offside trap but he dragged his effort wide of Craig Dunphy’s far post.
It was two nil on 11 minutes, Once again James Kennedy took on the Saints defence and his hard low cross found Dean Walsh lurking at the far post to score his second goal of the game.
Conor Kilgannon raced into the Saints box but his shot was blocked, however like all good strikers Dean Walsh followed up to score with a powerful volley to complete his hat trick.
Just past the half hour mark Villa made it four nil, Conor Kilgannon once again took on the Saints defence but his shot was saved by Saints keeper Luke O’Regan but the ever alert Dean Walsh was on the spot to sweep the ball into the net.
Villa made it five nil on 36 minutes, Conor Whittle opened up the saints defence with a clever pass and Dean Walsh showed fine composure to score his fifth goal of the game.
As a contest this game ended at the half time whistle as Villa had five goals in the bag.
St Brendans, who are a Premier League B team in the Kerry League, gave it their best shot and had a couple of decent players; however, Villa had to top players all over the pitch. Obviously Dean Walsh was Villa’s main man but Conor Kilgannon, Aaron O’Connor and Conor Whittle were all excellent for the home team.
At the start of the second half, the Waterford club showed no mercy as they went in search of more goals, and after 50 minutes James Keneddy fired wide of the far post when he really showed have scored.
Then, minutes later, Dean Walsh was guilty of missing two good chances. It was six nil on 65 minutes, Luke Walsh split the Saints defence with a pass into the path of Conor Kilgannon and his reverse pass was picked up by Dean Walsh who scored his sixth goal of the game and Villa final goal of the game.
Craig Dunphy (Ellis Ibrahimi ‘75), James Kennedy, John Tamen (Darragh O’Connor ‘79), Adam Conway (Adham Masood ‘74), Tony Ebhonuaye, Luke Walsh, Conor Kilgannon (John Browne ‘79), Conor Whittle (Evan Ryan ‘65), Dean Walsh, Aaron O’Connor, Matt Grinius.
Luke O’Reagan (Gary O’Brien ‘29), Adam Walker (Tomas Shamu ‘75), Cian O’Brien, Finn O’Neill, Jack Twamley, Greg Scanlon (Zach Garvey ‘70), Andrew Bogdanovic, Rodrigo Pinho, Cian Holden, James Fisher, Sean Kedzierski.
Gavin Keyes. Assisted By Noel Purcell and Luke Brennan.
