Avenue need extra time to win

West Clare United   1      Avenue United   2 (AET)
Newcomers to the Clare League, West Clare United stood little chance against title-holders Avenue United in this Clare Cup first round game at Kilrush on Sunday, or so people thought.

The home side had other ideas, however and they went into their game with the kingpins of Clare soccer, determined to show the Ennis outfit that they are a side to be reckoned with.
They did just that and are a little unlucky to have come out at the wrong end of a 2-1 result. That they had chances to have caused an upset is without question but a lack of experience proved costly.
In addition, the decision to replace David Tubridy early in the second half was a big surprise.
Presumably, the decision was taken because of the fact that he was due to play for Doonbeg in the opening round of the Cusack Cup in the afternoon. His replacement in the soccer tie was Shane Ryan who was also on Gaelic football duty in the afternoon.
Avenue took the lead with a goal from Barry Nugent after 20 minutes and this goal separated the teams at the interval. West Clare had a couple of chances in that opening half when they had the aid of the wind but they failed to capitalise and, at half time, everything pointed to an Avenue win as they would have wind assistance in the second half.
The third quarter was dominated by the home side and they had two gilt edge chances to score but failed to take either. That the visitors were under pressure in this half is without question and there was no denying that the home side deserved their goal when it came, in the final seconds of normal time.
Jamie and Jason Russell caused a lot of problems for the visitors during this tie and it was fitting that they should play a major part in their team’s goal.
As Jamie bore down on goal he was fouled by Avenue goalie John Healy and Jason cooly converted the resultant penalty to send the game into extra time.
Slack marking in the heart of the home side’s defence proved costly in the opening minute of the extra period and Con Collins curled the ball wide of Kevin Harte in the home side’s goal for what proved to be the winning score.
Avenue’s superior fitness saw them hold the edge in the second period and they held on for victory and a place in round two where they will play Moher Celtic.
Avenue United A: John Healy; David Herlihy, Eamonn O’Reilly, Con Collins, Colin Smith; Simon Cuddy, David Smith, Pa Wilson, Barry Nugent; Ritchie O’Grady, Mikey Mahony.
Subs: Jack Walsh for Eamonn O’Reilly.
West Clare United: Kevin Harte; Barry Copley, Hugh McNulty, Damian Honan, Barry Murphy Tom Honan, Jamie Russell, Brian Harte, Tony O’Doherty, Jason Russell, David Tubridy.
Subs: Shane Ryan, Andrew Flanagan, Pa Carmody, Gearoid Russell, Cathal Sexton.

Manus Celtic B        3    Hermitage B        0
Manus Celtic B progressed to the next round of the cup with this comfortable win over Hermitage B at Tiermaclane.
The winners led 1-0 at half time after playing against a stiff breeze. The foundations for this victory were laid in midfield where Declan Frawley and Conor Plunkett did well while Barry Malone had a fine game at centre-half.
The goal scorers were Shane Considine, Danny Scanlan and Donagh Murphy.
Manus Celtic B: Brian Keogh; Michael Malone, Barry Malone, Gary Farmer, Seanie Moloney; Danny Scanlan, Conor Plunkett, Declan Frawley, Eamonn Callinan; Shane Considine, Bernard Scanlan.
Subs: Donagh Murphy, Davy Considine.
Hermitage B: Martin Piotrowski; David Cahill, Terry Kelleher, Chris Riordan, Michael White, Jason Carey, Cathal Keane, Owen Cahill, Cormac O’Neill; Michael Singleton, Damian Hand.
Subs: Niall Corry, Cyril Casey.

Lifford             4    Hermitage C         1
Level at 1-1 each with nine minutes remaining, a surprise looked to be on the cards in this cup tie at Cassidy Park on Sunday. Favourites Lifford managed to raise their game and finish strongly to secure a place in the next round with goals from substitutes, Lunga Ballman and Roberto Pinto as well as one from Gary Browne.
After a scoreless first half, Lifford took the lead through Ruairi Norrby but the ‘Tage hit back to level with a goal from Mark Moloney who headed to the net from a Darren Lynch cross.
Hermitage goalkeeper, Ian Mounsey played well on the day, bringing off a number of good saves.
Lifford: Jan Da Silva; Kieran Connolly, Joe Lynch, Michael J Sullivan, Conor Donlon; Gary McNaboe, Pat Nagle, Ryan Boyle, Ruairi Norrby, TJ Ajisomo, Gary Browne.
Subs: Lunga Ballman, Roberto Pinto, Dylan Blake, Liam Glenny.
Hermitage C: Ian Mounsey; Jamie Kenneally, Eric O’Donoghue, Mick Culligan, Niall Seery, Eamonn Moloney, Johnnie O’Grady, Kenneth Hartigan, Oisin O’Donnell, John Hassett, Eric Moore.
Subs: Mark Moloney, Darren Lynch, Mike Thoussir, Trevor Devanney.

Bridge United B        11    Kildysart Celtic        0
Last year’s beaten cup finalists Bridge United B had an easy first round win over Kildysart Celtic at Sixmilebridge on Sunday.
Kildysart travelled to Sixmilebridge with just nine players and this eventually told as the home side dominated the second half
Bridge B led 3-0 at half time with goals from Paul Corbett (2) and Damian Murray. In the second half Trevor Kearney had a hat trick while Alan McAuley scored two with the remaining goals coming from Albert Finnan, Kevin Meehan and Barry O’Halloran.
Bridge Utd B: Barry Deasy; Dan Larkin, Dominick Murphy, Albert Finnan, Kevin Meehan; Paul Corbett, Geoffrey Flynn, Barry Downes, Gavin Herlihy Damian Murray; Gavin Downes.
Subs: Alan McAuley for Murphy; Mark Lonergan for Deasy; Trevor Kearney for Herlihy; Padraig Flannery for B Downes; Barry O’Halloran for P Corbett.
Kildysart Celtic: Pat Coffey; Gary O’Donoghue, Rory Murphy, David Ayers, Mark O’Connor, Gerry Finn, Liam Finn, Dessie O’Shea, Eddie Murphy.

Turnpike Rovers     3   Inch Crusaders        2
Turnpike Rovers advanced to the second round of the cup thanks to this win over Inch Crusaders in an entertaining game played at Lees Road on Sunday.
Inch got a great start when James Rynne scored with a volley from outside the box that gave Dermot Gannon in the Turnpike goal no chance. Inch dominated the next 20 minutes and were unlucky not to go further in front with shots from Gavin Cording and Thomas O’Doherty cleared off the line. Colm Ryan also went close for Inch with a first time shot from a Rory O’Connor cross.
Turnpike got back in the game on 30 minutes from the penalty spot with Dean O’Grady on target. On 40 minutes Turnpike went in front from a free kick and again there was some controversy with the goal.
As Inch lined up the wall the free kick was taken and the goal stood. Inch deservedly got back on level terms on the stroke of half time when Sean Hehir struck an unstoppable free kick from outside the box to the roof of the Turnpike net after a foul on Ryan.
Both sides pressed hard for a goal in the second half but neither could find a breakthrough until the 85th minute. Inch was attacking and lost possession on the edge of the Turnpike box.
A quick break down the left resulted in a chance which was well put away by Jason Hayes to put Turnpike back in front. On 88 minutes Turnpike thought they had scored a fourth but were denied by an offside flag.
The drama was not over yet and in the last minute Inch won a free kick inside the Turnpike half. Cording delivered a good free into the Turnpike box that was put into the net by a Mikey Pyne header but the referee blew for offside. Moments later the final whistle sounded and Turnpike were through to the second round where they will play Tulla Utd A.
Turnpike Rovers: Dermot Gannon; Ethan Considine, Shane Moroney, Donnacda Hassett, Ian McMahon; David McMahon, Dean O’Grady, Noel Frawley, Tommy Cronin, Jason Hayes, Christopher Shannon.
Subs: Eric Hayes for S Moroney; Mark Woods for Cronin; William O’Keeffe for Frawley.
Inch Crusaders: Andy O’Flynn, James Rynne, Thomas O’Doherty, Sean Hehir, Sean Talty, Rory O’Connor, Gavin Cording, Brian McDonnell, Mark Connellan, Clinton Keane, Colm Ryan.
Subs: Declan McNaboe for Ryan; Mikey Pyne for O’Doherty.