IN WHAT is always a keenly awaited local derby Ridge took the game to Crettyard with Liam Dunne's speedy advance on the visitor's goal being brought to an illegal halt on the edge of the area. John Sheehan expertly arrowed the free goal wards with John Graham glued to his line and grateful for the ball to clip the top of the bar on five minutes.

Even if this haircut jolted Crettyard from their lethargy their continued shakiness was seized upon by the busy Ridge unit whose Ray Buggy forced John Graham into a good save before John Sheehan delivered as corner onto an unmarked Patrick Dunne whose header flew over the target on 14 minutes.

Ridge were always dangerous and their enterprising attacking play won another corner delivered by John Sheehan but only half cleared by the Crettyard defence allowing Liam Dunne to volley a great strike past John Graham to give Ridge the lead on 30 minutes.

During the course of the following exchanges, it was clear that the penny had dropped for the Crettyard players and during the following exchanges Chrístóir Maher and Colin Osborne tiled relentlessly to restore midfield balance with Willy Fitzpatrick‚s electrifying runs providing some hope for a Crettyard equaliser as the game approached half time. However, it was Ridge who almost snaffled the next score when John Sheehan's corner sat up nicely for Liam Dunne to lash towards an inviting goal but Ray Buggy made a vital goal line block to prevent a certain score on 44 minutes.

In the second half a much more energetic and methodical Crettyard pressed the Ridge unit into errors with a galloping run and cross by Chris Comerford fall kindly for Brendan Fox to equalise on 47 minutes.

The Ridge defence excelled during the following exchanges while the Crettyard defence was left asking itself questions when a lengthy throw by Brian Malone was misjudged and misjudged again before Bobby Daly arrived to poke the ball to the net to restore the Ridge advantage on 57 minutes.

Within minutes, Crettyard introduced Anthony Holohan who proceeded to make a considerable difference to the balance of midfield power in United‚s favour. By 70 minutes, the tide had taken a more turn in favour of the visitors with Ridge keeper Adrian Brennan making another fine save to deny Chrístóir Maher.

However, Ridge began to concede free‚s in dangerous positions and another Maher delivery was firmly headed to the Ridge net by Terence Haughney on 77 minutes. Ridges response was almost immediate with Bobby Daly once again stealing in unattended but John Graham made a vital intervention.

The outcome of the game was decided when the Ridge defence misdirected a Craig Comerford cross into space which allowed Willy Fitzpatrick to deliver an accurate header to the net on 88 minutes.

Parkville United 0 Burrin Celtic 0

DESPITE THEIR respective positions in the League table, this is always likely to be a keenly contested local derby.

It was Burrin who enjoyed the better of the early exchanges with the energetic Marcin Bieniasz proving a real handful for the United defence to control. He got on the end of a great pass from Matty Dowling but his goal bound shot was deflected narrowly wide on 16 minutes. Within minutes, the Parkville keeper had made a great save to prevent Burrin's Sean Foley from breaking the deadlock. The home side began to find its bearings with veteran Burrin keeper Frank Fanning making a number of telling interventions and saves to preserve the status quo at half time.

With Parkville continuing to be in defensively cautious mode Burrin's James Nolan advanced to the edge of their box but he was denied by a wonderful save by the United keeper.