Hat-trick hero is happy at Pools

SINCE emerging as the League of Ireland’s brightest talent in 2007, things haven’t gone according to plan for Roy O’Donovan.

His big money move from Cork City to Sunderland failed to take off, as 19 bit-part appearances in three years on Wearside saw his career stagnate.

But a move down two divisions to Hartlepool could be just what he needs to rediscover both the art of scoring and the sort of form which led to Roy Keane spending 500,000 euros on the forward.

Three neat and tidy finishes for Pools on Saturday saw off Southend, and in two home games since O’Donovan’s loan arrival there have been six points and seven goals in the home side’s favour.

“All I’ve missed in the last couple of years is playing games regularly – it’s something I’ve not done at Sunderland,’’ he reflected. “I’m still not fit, but I lasted 70 minutes out there at a good pace. For my third goal, I was dead on my feet and swung at a great ball by Denis (Behan).

“The strikers have been brilliant since I came here. I knew I was under pressure to make an impact. I’m delighted to score like I have done, but I’m wise enough to know I have to keep it up.

“A few bad games and you can be out of the side looking on. It happened to me like that (on loan) at Southend.

“Hopefully I can keep it going and do what I can to stay in. If we all do our jobs like we did against Carlisle and Southend we will move up the table.’’ On 16 minutes Adam Boyd, making the most of the space O’Donovan’s bright running creates, curled a pass into his path and, via the underside of the crossbar, Pools were oneup.

While Ritchie Jones was offside when the ball was lobbed in by Boyd past a haplessly organised Southend offside trap on 32 minutes, O’Donovan wasn’t and he had enough time to pick his spot and make a cup of tea before rolling in.

He missed a couple of halfchances for his hat-trick before Behan rolled the ball across the back four for another low finish in the 90th minute.

“My last hat-trick? I certainly didn’t get one for Sunderland.

If I did I think I’d be a multi-millionaire by now!’’ he joked.

“I got a couple for Cork, now I want another for Hartlepool by the end of the season.

“It’s an ideal time to come here. The team weren’t in a good position when I came, but we are looking up. My buddies from Cork are here and now all we want to do is get up to mid-table at least.’’ His last triple haul was in 2007, for Cork against Portadown and also in the Cork side that day were Behan and Joe Gamble.

Gamble was his typical industrious self on Saturday, despite hardly training during the week with a hip injury.

Behan came off the bench to tee up the third.

“I’ve had three weeks here, there’s a great morale and spirit,’’ added O’Donovan.

“The management team play well off each other and the reserves are doing well, they are pushing for places.

“The senior lads here know what it is all about, everyone is easy going, but determined to do well for Hartlepool.

“They aren’t selfish about it, but they want to do well for the club. I’m glad to be here with a good bunch of lads.

“When I came I knew they were only a couple of places outside the drop zone.We all knew the games to come were good for us. It’s bearing fruit right now, there’s some very good players and good pros here.

“We got our rewards this time, last week we didn’t. We took our chances and deserved it.’’ Southend included one of O’Donovan’s fellow Stadium of Light outcasts in defence, Jean Yves Mvoto. Quite what convinced Keane to sign the Frenchman in 2008 is anyone’s guess if this is anything to go by. The central defender was put out of his misery at halftime after 45 wretched and uninterested minutes.

The visitors have gone ten games without a win and, dogged by money troubles, it’s hard to see them getting out of the bottom four. Perhaps three places are already as good as taken, with ten teams left trying to avoid one spot.

The back to back home wins have eased the pressure on Pools and this win was routine.

With eight of the bottom half teams still to play, there are no excuses for Pools not to reach 50 points in good time – 12 points from 12 games isn’t too much to ask.

Match facts

Goals:

1-0: O’Donovan: (16, took Boyd’s slide rule pass in his stride and finished off the crossbar)

2-0: O’Donovan: (32, beat static defence with ease, had ample time and space to pick his spot)

3-0: O’Donovan: (90, Behan’s pass into feet brought a low, drilled finish from 16 yards)

Bookings: McCormack (36, kicking ball away); Sweeney (63, kicking ball away)

Sending-off: McCormack (82, second bookable offence, foul)

Referee: Jock Waugh (Sheffield): Some queer decisions and allowed his linesmen to make decisions for him, which other referees don’t seem to do 6

Attendance: 3,299

Entertainment: ✰✰✰

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-4-2):

6 Flinders: Just one low save to make, commanded area well on first clean sheet since November

6 Austin: Never troubled all afternoon, allowed to prompt his share of attacks

5 Collins: Edgy at times, has defended a lot better and yet conceded a lot more goals with it

7 Liddle: Gave little away with an intelligent and assured performance

6 Hartley: Was given the run around by Laurent at Roots Hall, but not this time as the winger was kept in check, resorting to theatrics when going to ground;

5 Jones: The odd spark into life, but generally subdued on the right flank because of illness

8 Gamble: Dictated things for a while in the first-half in typical style, hardly affected by his hip injury

6 Sweeney: In the right places at times to pop the ball forward and is enjoying playing without many defensive responsibilities

5 Monkhouse: Steady return to the fold, put in a shift up and down the left side

7 Boyd: As his strike partner does most of the running, he is allowed to float around and use the ball at will

9 O’DONOVAN: Three top quality finishes when presented with the openings, pace caused problems

Subs:

Brown (for Jones 63): Getting there after his injuries and is now ready to play from the start 6

Humphreys (for Gamble 70): Game was as good as over when he was introduced 5

Behan (for Boyd 80) (not used): Cook (gk), McSweeney, Haslam, Bjornssson.

SOUTHEND UNITED (4-4-2):

Mildenhall 6; Francis 6, M’Voto 3 (Malone 46, 5), Baldwin 5, Barrett 5; Laurent 4, McCormack 4, Moussa 5, SCANNELL 6; Vernon 5, Paterson 4 (Spencer 73). Subs (not used): Sankofa, Herd, Jack (gk), Crawford.

MAN OF THE MATCH

ROY O’Donovan – may not have had a chance at Sunderland, but is a good addition to the squad at Victoria Park.