OLV 3 (N.Stapleton 2, G.Farrell) Clontarf Villa 2

OLV made hard work of a victory that should have been, on the day, an easy win over Clontarf Villa.  After taking the lead within a minute through Noel Stapleton, OLV looked as if they were expectantly too comfortable.  In a game that was, for the most part very clean, referee JJ Walsh was intent on stamping his mark on the game with a flagrant use of the yellow card.

OLV had opened the scoring when Noel Stapleton had latched onto a lovely through ball  from Gorden Farrell to easily beat the Clontarf keeper and send OLV into the lead 1-0.  Clontarf then equalised through a suspect award of a spot kick 1-1. OLV had yet to get going although they were in the driving seat up to that point.  Noel Stapleton was to grab another a midway through the first half after a long pass from the OLV keeper left him through on goal and he converted beautifully.

Gorden Farrell got himself on the scoresheet later in the first half as OLV looked like they had finally awoken from their slumber, half time 3-1.

The second half was awash with missed opportunities from both sides and it wasn't until stoppage time that Clontarf were to add their second, again from the penalty spot, after Martin Dunican was adjudged to have handled in the box, 3-2 OLV.

A good day for Noel Stapleton and Gorden Farrell with three very good goals between them to help bring OLV closer to the top of the league table. This keeps the OLV title challenge truly alive with 5 league games remaining.