EA Sports Cup Report: Cabinteely 4 - 3 Crumlin United (AET)

Andrew Dempsey reports from Stradbrook Road

A goal in the 119th minute from new signing Oliver White saw Cabinteely reach the second round of the EA Sports Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Cabo raced into a two-nil lead, before they were soon pegged back by their Leinster Senior League opposition. Craig Walsh fired Crumlin ahead in extra-time before Dean Casey levelled.

However, the drama was yet to come as Cabo nicked an incredible win at the death, with new signing White heading home at the back post after a drilled shot from Casey into the ground found the American who made no mistake.

After seeing off Shamrock Rovers II on Friday evening thanks to a late Shane Barnes winner – Cabinteely opted to make several changes from their most recent league outing.

And it was a much-changed Cabo that started on Sunday afternoon, with five first-team debuts handed out to Corey Chambers, Eoin McPhillips, Kaito Akimoto, Cian Kelly and Oliver White.

Crumlin United on the other hand came into the game off the back of a one goal win over UCD in the Metropolitan Cup with new recruit Jamie Hollywood scoring the winner over the Students Leinster Senior League side.

Hollywood joins a whole host of former League of Ireland stars with Martin Loughran’s Crumlin – with the likes of Craig Walsh, Thomas Hyland and Jake Donnelly all formerly of National League sides.

With quality on both sides of the pitch, it was the sprinkling of early quality from Akimoto who gave the hosts an early lead after 51 seconds.

Kevin Knight found the Japanese forward with a low ball, before he fired across the goal and into the bottom corner of Mark O’Connor’s net.



United looked to hit back instantly minutes later, but McPhillips was on hand to head off the line as the Leinster Senior League side ought to hit back.

And it was the former Drogheda United midfielder who doubled Cabo’s lead on the quarter hour mark with a superb free kick.

His 25-yard effort curled into the top corner, leaving O’Connor with no chance as the First Division side raced clear.

However, keen to remain in the contest – Crumlin hit back through Stephen Larkin after a well worked set-piece routine.

Walsh’ ball into the box was headed back into danger by Hollywood – and Larkin was on hand to steer his effort home at the near post.

Cabo shot-stopper Corey Chambers was then forced into action with a smart save from Conor Murphy – but Crumlin were not to be denied a leveller before the break.



Ciaran Grogan was adjudged to have taken down Walsh with a trailing leg – and the former Bray Wanderers star made no mistake from 12 yards to level the contest.

And remarkably, United may have taken a lead into the break – but Hollywood’s skewed effort went wide of goal after another set-piece caused all sorts of problems in the hosts defence as both went in level at the break.

After a quiet first-half display – Dean Casey went close to sending Cabinteely back in the lead, but his off-balance effort went harmlessly wide of goal.

Crumlin however went closest minutes later – but Walsh could not convert with the goal at his mercy while one-on-one with Chambers.  

The impressive Walsh continued to impress as the game wore on – almost catching the Cabinteely keeper unawares with a lobbed 40-yard effort that just went over the bar.

He then went close minutes later with a poked effort – as Casey forced a vital clearance from Calvin Rogers ten minutes from time.

However, Walsh should have sealed the win for Crumlin – but he could only see his effort go wide of goal and Casey also went close for the hosts, with extra-time left to separate the sides.

After impressing during the ninety minutes, Walsh thought he secured Crumlin’s passage into the next round of the EA Sports Cup with a superb lob over Chambers to complete the United fightback in the grand manner.

But Cabo came back from the dead – and levelled through Casey, before forward Oliver White nipped in at the back post to secure a dramatic win for the First Division side.

 

Cabinteely: Corey Chambers ; Zak O'Neill , Kevin Knight , Cian Kelly (Andrew Byrne 88) , Sean Fitzpatrick (Lee Murray 62) ; Eoin McPhillips , Ciaran Grogan (Mark Soper 99) , Dean Casey , Dylan Thornton ; Kato Akimoto (Kieran 'Marty' Waters 88) , Oliver White .

Subs not used: Peter Quinlan, Ryusei Kojima, Aaron Byrne.

Booked: Dylan Thornton (76).

Sent off: None.


Crumlin United: Mark O'Connor ; Calvin Rogers , Jack Memery , Noel Cummins ; James Lee , Stephen Larkin (Jake Donnelly 91) , Thomas Hyland , Jamie Hollywood , Craig Walsh (Liam Brady 105) ; Conor Murphy , Callum Keane (Gareth Brady 80) .

Subs not used: Blair Mandiangu, Ian Kinsella.

Booked: Craig Walsh (62), Jamie Hollywood (94), To be Confirmed (105),

Sent off: None.


Referee: Robert Dowling.

Attendance: 150 (Estimate).

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Craig Walsh (Crumlin United).