Adamczyk salvo secures victory

Navan Cosmos officials left the pitch at the MDL on Sunday probably wondering how they won this exciting Div 1 encounter against Dundalk side Muirhevnamor. The men from the Wee County departed the venue soon after and even forgot to bring one of their own players with them - it had been that sort of a day. Apparently they were in Slane before they realised that they were minus a body. Muirhevnamor totally dominated for 90 minutes and yet went in two goals adrift at the break. They also had their assistant-manager sent-off following a verbal altercation with referee Brian Murphy. That incident occurred as early as the 16th minute when Sean Hand looked certain to score after he chipped the ball over the advancing Cosmos 'keeper Sean McDonagh. However, a subtle tug of a jersey impeded Hand's progress as he attempted to sidestep McDonagh and get on the ball again, but the referee was unsighted and Cosmos escaped. The wrath of Muirhevnamor was unleashed. The players and officials were looking for a penalty and a red card for the 'keeper. All they got was an exit strategy for the assistant-manager, but that incident rankled them for the remainder. While the reaction was understandable, it just diverted attention from the real task. The Dundalk men still created loads of chances with Hand and Gary Clarke raiding down each flank and David Boyle probing through the centre as Daryl Ratty and Mark Nicholls marshalled the Cosmos rearguard. Cosmos threatened sporadically, but the two front men, Stephen Ivers and Tomas Adamczyk were involved in both goals late in the opening half. The first arrived in the 39th minute when Ivers sent in a free and Adamczyk headed to the net at the far post. Ivers provided the final pass five minutes later, Adamczyk weaved his way past two or three challenges and finished to the net. Muirhevnamor were literally sick at the interval, but that actually manifested itself midway through the second-half when one of their central defenders had to be replaced after spewing up on the pitch. “Too much Bavaria last night†was the comment from the sideline and there wasn't a lot of sympathy. However, Muirhevanamor practically owned the ball for the second-half, but they huffed and puffed and generally missed the target until central defender Adrian Rafferty, who moved into attack in the closing stages, rifled to the net with five minutes remaining. Cosmos survived the remainder and are now looking good for a serious title challenge after leaders Dromin lost. The Navan men are six points adrift and have four games in hand. Of more immediate significance will be a trip to Monaghan to play Challenge Cup holders Clones Town in the second round, but next Sunday's game against Longwood will give them an opportunity to keep the pressure on the leaders. For Muirhevnamor, they have a friendly game against Dundalk at Oriel Park on Sunday as their next assignment followed by a return to MDL action the following weekend. Navan Cosmos - S McDonagh; I Reilly, M Rogers, D Ratty, M Nicholls, B Newman, L Ivers, S Conaty, S Ivers, T Adamczyk, J Martin. Subs - P Bartley for Conaty 70 mins; D Coogan for Adamczyk 80m; TJ Mackey for Martin 87m. Muirhevanamor -S McGuinness; C Boland, J Smith, A Rafferty, P Blair, S O'Brien, G Clarke, M Larkin, D Boyle, S Conlon, S Hand. Subs - B Hughes for Boland 50 mins; C Dixon for Blair 70m. Referee - Brian Murphy (Louth Branch ISRS)