15.00 28 Jan 2017 -
Referee:
Munster Senior Cup Report: Blarney United 1 - 0 Avondale United
- Simon O'Gorman
- Sat, Jan 28 2017
Alan Quill’s 14th minute goal was enough to see Blarney United into the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Cup at the expense of Avondale United at O’Shea Park on Saturday afternoon.
Having already knocked Avondale out of this season’s Intermediate and Keane Cups, Blarney were looking for a cup hat-trick against their Cork neighbours and despite concerted second-half pressure from the Dale they held out for a win that will see them host Cork City at the same venue in the semi-final next Friday.
After a scrappy opening period Blarney went on to be the better team in the opening 45 minutes, a performance deservedly adorned by what would prove to be Quill’s match-winner. An attack down the right put midfielder Anthony Crowley into space and he slipped the ball through for Quill to finish low past Owen O’Sullivan in the Dale goal.
Avondale had the ball in the net just two minutes later but Danny O’Connell was ruled offside by assistant Paul Braganza. He poked the ball over the line after Vinnie O’Brien’s effort had been parried up into the air by Blarney ‘keeper Cian Woods.
Seconds later at the other end good build-up play from Kevin O’Sullivan and Ray O’Leary offered Derek Healy an opening but he failed to beat the Avondale net-minder. And it was Blarney who offered the more potent threat as the half progressed.
Martin O’Sullivan was excellent on Blarney’s right wing, creating havoc whenever he pushed down the line. O’Leary, Crowley and Conor Cronin created a robust central three and with Quill lively on the left Blarney caused most of the problems up to the break.
Martin O’Sullivan clattered a shot off the near post on 36 minutes and his cross four minutes later found striker Derek Healy eight yards out but his header was straight at O’Sullivan in the Dale goal.
The second half was a different matter entirely. Avondale were the dominant side from the whistle and, apart from a number of counter attacks by the home side, they looked the more likely to score throughout.
Blarney allowed Avondale to play across the back, from where they built a foundation of possession that was complemented by Ray Lally’s industry after he dropped into the holding midfield position.
Dale’s first sniff of an equaliser came on the hour when Blarney did well to smother Josh O’Shea’s attempt on goal. Vinnie O’Brien looped a header wide two minutes later.
Centre-back Darren Murphy became a powerhouse for Dale as they continued to press, looking the most accomplished player on the field with the ball at his feet. And when Ken Bruton came on after 68 minutes the visitors looked to be building towards a strong finish.
But Dale almost went two down on 72 minutes when the excellent Brian Murphy sent a loose cross-field ball that was intercepted by Martin O’Sullivan. He drove down the right and sent in a low cross that Healy just failed to reach at the back post.
Both sides proceeded to empty their benches with Avondale looking for a creative spark and Blarney looking to shut the game down. Indeed, when provided with opportunities on the break, Blarney looked just as interested in keeping the ball than in pressing for a killer second.
Dale’s final chance came right at the death when a corner led to Josh O’Shea finding space on the edge of the box, but his volley flew wide of the Blarney goal.
The final whistle came moments later and the home side had earned their win, and their semi-final date with the 2016 FAI Cup winner’s, Cork City.
Blarney United: Cian Woods; Aidan Leahy, Alan Weldon, Aaron O’Raw, Kevin O’Sullivan; Martin O’Sullivan (Thomas Carroll 88), Anthony Crowley (Shane Stewart 84), Ray O’Leary, Conor Cronin, Alan Quill (Alan Stewart 77); Derek Healy.
Subs not used: Ivan O’Leary, Stephen Jennings, Stephen O’Brien, Paul Collins.
Booked: Martin O’Sullivan (78).
Avondale United: Owen O’Sullivan; Cian Hill, Darren Murphy, Eoghan Lockheed, Liam O’Sullivan (Tom Linehan 84); Vinnie O’Brien, Eoin Ryan (Ken Bruton 68), Brian Murphy, Ray Lally; Josh O’Shea, Danny O’Connell (Simon Falvey 75).
Subs not used: Paul Kelleher, James Sheehan, Hughie O’Donovan.
Booked: Cian Hill (76).
Referee: Ray Murphy.
Attendance: 200 (estimate).
Extra-time Man of the Match: Darren Murphy (Avondale United).
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and …
Subs
Subs
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peamount Utd | 20 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 52 |
2 | Shels FC | 20 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 46 |
3 | Shamrock Rvrs | 20 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 45 |
4 | Galway Women | 20 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 38 |
5 | Athlone | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 35 |
6 | Bohs | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 31 |
7 | Wexford W | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 28 |
8 | DLR Waves | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 13 |
9 | Sligo | 20 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 11 |
10 | Treaty Utd | 20 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 8 |
11 | Cork City W | 20 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 6 |
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Galway | 36 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 94 |
2 | Waterford | 36 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 69 |
3 | Cobh | 36 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 59 |
4 | Wexford | 36 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 53 |
5 | Athlone | 36 | 14 | 5 | 17 | 47 |
6 | Treaty United | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 44 |
7 | Bray | 36 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 44 |
8 | Longford | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 40 |
9 | Harps | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 37 |
10 | Kerry | 36 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 10 |
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shamrock R | 36 | 20 | 12 | 4 | 72 |
2 | Derry | 36 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 65 |
3 | St Patrick's Athl. | 36 | 19 | 5 | 12 | 62 |
4 | Shels | 36 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 60 |
5 | Dundalk | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 58 |
6 | Bohs | 36 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 58 |
7 | Drogheda | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 41 |
8 | Sligo | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 37 |
9 | Cork | 36 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 31 |
10 | UCD | 36 | 2 | 5 | 29 | 11 |
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