Bracken goals give Clara timely win
GIVEN the final scoreline, it's hard to believe that this tie was scoreless after half an hour. Poor defending from a very youthful visiting side plus an inspired display from 17-year-old Robert Bracken, who nabbed four goals, ensured the day belonged to the Clara men.
CCFL Senior Division
Clara Town 8
Portlaoise AFC 2
It was a timely victory for the 2007 Senior Division champions who still find themselves firmly in the middle of a relegation dogfight. Just after the opening half hour Clara availed of some shoddy Portlaoise defending and Bracken surged through before dispatching his clinical shot beyond the reach of Ross Morrissey.
Less than ten minutes later the Offaly side were celebrating their second goal. A text-book move up from the full back position was finished off by a smart Bobby Guilfoyle shot. Portlaoise's fight back was immediate however.
Indeed the Laois side had two goals rules out in quick succession. Jason Murphy was first to net for the visitors but to his despair the match official indicated offside.
Then James Ryan's header was ruled out for the same offence.
The Offaly hosts were quick to pounce after these let-offs and had soon notched a third goal. Despite a last-ditch Cathal Dunphy tackle Clara's Derek Coughlin somehow squeezed his shot home.
Almost immediately however Portlaoise pulled back a goal through a fizzing Darren Rogers' shot. Just before the interval the pendulum swung again and the hosts notched up a fourth goal.
Despite trailing Portlaoise re-emerged from the break in a resolute mood. Early on striker Murphy burst through on goal but his one-on-one duel with Clara's James Kinaghan in goals saw the experienced Offaly player pull off a smart save.
Then Evin Reddin fed Rogers with a great pass but the striker miscued wildly with the goals beckoning. Those misses were to prove very costly as the home side soon notched their fifth goal when slack marking from a corner allowed Bracken nod home a free header.
Soon after Bracken finished his scoring spree for the day when he pulled on a breaking ball and his snap shot beat Morrissey. Portlaoise's response was emphatic however and they soon conjured a well-worked second goal.
James Ryan and Cathal Dunphy linked up well and when Dunphy fed Rodgers on the angle the striker made no mistake with a vemonous shot.
Then both Ryan and Nathan Carpenter missed chances to close the gap even further. The hosts used that as a signal late on to tack on two late goals. Thomas Deehan tucked away a penalty then Deehan added a second goal in the dying moments when Clara caught their opponents on the break.
An understrength Portlaoise side will hope the injured spine of their side will return in the coming weeks as the Laois outfit have been sucked into a relegation battle with Mountmellick, CK United and Clara.
The Laois side saw a good performance from midfielder Wayne McFaul. The Offaly side will enjoy this result before getting down to the task of protecting their Senior status. Robert Bracken deserved his man-of-the-match accolade and the wide player was well supported by striker Paddy Guilfoyle and full back Bobby Guilfoyle.
CLARA TOWN: James Kinaghan; Bobby Guilfoyle, Thomas Quinn, Derek Coughlin, Sean Moran; Deasun Baggott, Robert Bracken, Pa Smith, Darren Kelly; Gary Devine, Paddy Guilfoyle Subs Used:Thomas Deehan, Dean Minnock
PORTLAOISE AFC: Ross Morrissey; Cathal Dunphy, Niall Guilfoyle, Brian Bowe, Eoin Farrell; Evin Reddin, James Ryan, Wayne McFaul, Nathan Carpenter; Jason Murphy, Darren Rogers
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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