Hoban’s strike secures Mervue’s League place

Date Published: 06-Oct-2009

“WHAT a cross!” screamed 18 year-old Mervue midfielder Pat Hoban as he wheeled away in frantic celebration after scoring the only goal of the game to seal a crucial win for his team at Station Road on Friday night.

And what a cross it was – Hoban picked up the ball on the left flank just inside the Kildare half with 15 minutes on the clock, and tantalized the County defenders with his blistering pace.

With his central partner Mike Tierney waiting at the back post, Hoban pulled the trigger from a tight angle and a distance of around 25 yards – and to the shock of all inside the small ground the ball dipped and found the top corner instead of Tierney’s head waiting to nod it in.

But it had been coming, as Mervue dominated proceedings throughout and took full control in the second half. However, in the opening period chances also came; with Hoban and Rory Gaffney linking up well – and the latter chesting a great ball from Hoban on the half-hour mark and lobbing just wide from 18 yards. Two minutes later, Tierney flicked on a Gaffney cross and Hoban dived to head it – only to see it go inches wide of the upright.

Kildare meanwhile rarely threatened, however skipper Philip Hughes did look capable of causing problems if given the chance – a chance which arrived five minutes before the break when he reached a cross before rushing Mervue stopper Eoin Martin. Just when his weak headed effort looked to be bouncing into the empty net, a small clump of sand on the goal-line prevented the Lilywhites from taking an undeserved lead in the most bizarre of circumstances as the ball simply bounced to safety.

Thus arrived…