End of the road for gallant Knightsbrook

Meath & District League Div 4 giantkillers Knightsbrook faltered at the penultimate hurdle in the Challenge Cup against Dundalk side Glenmuir at Marian Park, Drogheda on Friday night. However, behind the scoreline and the defeat lies a remarkable journey for one of the minnows of soccer in the Royal County. Knightsbrook enjoyed victories over some of the top teams in the MDL which included Carrick Rovers and Bellurgan Utd while off the pitch they were involved in a lengthy and successful appeal process. That series of protests and appeals resulted from a game against Square Utd. The Ardee men won the game, but used an ineligible player who was already cup-tied. Knightsbrook protested, but had to go all the way to the Leinster Football Association (LFA) and Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for ratification. Unfortunately, there was no fairytale ending for the Trim side as they were totally out-played for the first 45 minutes on Friday night by a multi-talented Premier League Glenmuir side. The Louth side were able to include players of the calibre of David Hoey and Chris Lawless in their line-up, both holders of FAI Senior Cup medals. Against that kind of quality, Knightsbrook were always going to struggle. Two Mark McGeough goals and one apiece from Anto Reilly and Stephen Fisher left Glenmuir in a comfortable position at the interval, but Knightsbrook were guilty of atrocious defending as they struggled to cope with the pace of the game. Knightsbrook gave it a real go in the second-half as Glenmuir sat back. The Meath side had a 15th minute 'goal" disallowed for offside - from where I was standing it wasn"t the correct decision. Referee Brian Murphy, who for his day job is town clerk in Trim, told the disappointed Knightsbrook player - 'The man who put the flag up is the only one I"m interested in.' Undaunted, Knightsbrook maintained the momentum and had two shots cleared off the line, one from Eddie Murray which looked all over a goal until a lunging clearance averted the danger. Eventually they were rewarded with a thoroughly deserved goal from Dave Moynihan in the 86th minute. Glenmuir responded to that and claimed a late Colin Smart goal on a quick counter attack. Glenmuir finished with 10 men due to an injury as all the substitutes had been used. Glenmuir - Eamonn Roe; David Hoey, Cormac McArdle, David Fairclough, Alan Brown, Dermot Grier, Alan Larkin, Mark McGeough, Anto Reilly, Brian Kilboy, Stephen Fisher. Subs - Colin Smart for Reilly, Mark Nolan for McArdle, Chris Lawless for Larkin. Knightsbrook - Eugene Goulding; David Gibney, Darren Blaney, TJ Garry, Alan Gilbane, Anthony Craig, Craig O"Hanlon, James Curran, Edward Murray, Dave Moynihan, Cillian Ryan. Subs - Derek Fortune for Gibney, Trevor Dempsey for Fortune.