Avenue march on in Youths Cup

Pike Rovers 2   Avenue United 3

AVENUE United deservingly progressed to the next round of the FAI Youths Cup when they defeated a fancied Pike Rovers outfit at the |Limerick club’s venue on St Stephen’s Day.
As a result of this victory, the Ennis side are now through to play Charleville in a last 32 fixture.
Avenue dominated the opening quarter and deservingly took the lead after 25 minutes when Dean D’Auria’s powerful strike from 30 yards went all the way to the net.
Prior to that, the winners had come close with efforts from Donal O’Halloran and Dara Kerins while Sean Corry had seen his effort rebound off the upright.
Avenue doubled their advantage shortly before half-time when Sean Corry’s cross was deflected past the Pike keeper to the net leaving the score at 2-0 at half-time.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, the home side pulled one back but Avenue regained control and piled on the pressure again. A Dara Kerin goal was disallowed for an offside infringement, while Nicki Twumasai saw his effort rebound off the post.
With full-time approaching, the Ennis side’s two-goal advantage was restored when Donal O’Halloran scored. At the same time, Pike were reduced to 10 men. In the third minute of injury time, the home side pulled one back but Avenue held on for a merited win.

Avenue United: Killian Normoyle; Dean D’Auria, Cian Darcy, Kaylan O’Loughlin, Paddy O’Malley, Sean Corry, Eanna Fennell, Donal O’Halloran, Conor O’Brien, Dara Kerin, Nicki Twumasai.
Subs: Gary Roche for Twumasai; Luke Hayes for O’Malley.

Casey on the mend

AVENUE lined out against Pike without the services of Dylan Casey due to injury. Casey was injured when playing with the Avenue juniors against Connolly Celtic in the Munster Junior Cup and, initially, it was feared he had sustained a broken ankle. Ligament damage was diagnosed and the Ennis teenager, who is on trial at Leicester City, will be out of action for three weeks. This has ruled him out of action for the Irish youths trials, which are taking place this week.
His Avenue clubmate, goalkeeper Nathan Murray, was also called up for the Irish trials. He was unavailable for last week’s club fixture against Pike Rovers as he was away but he returned early to participate in the Irish trial.