A brilliant free kick from Damien Ryan deep into injury time earned Corofin Harps a share of the points against Bridge Utd at Corofin on Sunday morning.
Corofin Harps A 2
Bridge Utd A 2
Venue: Corofin
In a very open and entertaining game throughout Bridge Utd went in front on 31 minutes when Darren Murphy scored with a well struck header from a Kieran Quinlan corner. Corofin went close to equalising from a free kick on the edge of the box through Damien Ryan on 38 minutes that narrowly missed the target. Trevor Maxwell was causing the Corofin defence problems down the right wing and he was unlucky not to stretch the lead on 39 minutes after a good run and shot that went over the bar.
Two minutes later Maxwell made no mistake with a great finish to the roof of the Corofin net after another good run and shot inside the box. Bridge finished the half strong and a cross from Quinlan right on half time was deflected off a defender and was stopped from going into his own net by a brilliant save from David Phillips.
Corofin started the second half brightly and Abner Cordeiro had a shot blocked by Darren Murphy on 46 minutes. Maxwell made another good run on 54 minutes but was denied by a good save at his near post from Adam Crowe who had replaced the injured Phillips at half time. A good ball into the box from Quinlan on 65 minutes was met in the air by a John Keogh header and Corofin survived when the ball rebounded off the crossbar.
Harps got a great chance to get back in the match on 70 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. Damien Ryan struck low to the left corner but Barry Deasy got down well to make a great save turning the ball around the post for a corner. Darragh Fitzgerald went close for Bridge on 77 minutes with a shot from 25 yards that Crowe did well to save. Corofin pulled a goal back on 83 minutes when Abner Cordeiro finished well after a goalmouth scramble.
Bridge enjoyed a lot of possession in the closing stages and with the game deep in injury time Corofin had one last attack where they won a free kick on the edge of the box. Ryan stepped up one more time for Corofin and made up for his earlier penalty miss with a brilliant free kick that flew into the top corner to level the contest and spark great celebrations among the home players and supporters.
Corofin Harps A: David Phillips, Ronnie Meere, Brian Halpin, Damien Ryan, Fiachra Roche, Tola Crowe, Brian McGaurian, Jason Tierney, John Sherlock, Darren Bane, Abner Cordeiro. Subs: Adam Crowe for Phillips (inj), Steven Keane for Sherlock,
Bridge Utd A: Barry Deasy, Dan Larkin, Jay Whyte, Darren Murphy, Eoin Guinan, Barry Downes, Trevor Maxwell, Darragh Fitzgerald, John Keogh, Christy Carey, Kieran Quinlan . Subs: Jordan Downes for Carey, Kieran Brennan for Keogh.
Referee: Michael Rock
