Avenue’s U-17s march on

Avenue United  5

Avondale United 1

Avenue United are through to the quarter-finals of the FAI U-17 Cup following this victory over a highly rated and fancied Avondale United side at the County Grounds in Doora on Saturday.

The game produced some excellent football and while Avenue emerged as deserving winners, a four-goal margin is a bit unfair on the visitors who deserved to be closer.
With Dylan Casey back in action having recovered from injury, Avenue went into the game determined to continue to follow the example of the club’s youths side who had recorded impressive victories in recent weeks.
They took the lead after 15 minutes when Lee Quirke hit the target and they should have doubled their advantage shortly after when Segun Junaid beat his marker but just could not get the ball over the line.
Avondale were back in terms at the mid-point of the first half when Conor O’Driscoll, just back from a two week trial in England, got the vital touch to steer the ball over the Avenue goal line.
Avenue’s response was impressive and, within a few minutes, Junaid had them ahead again when he rounded off a good move.
This score drew a strong response from the visitors who laid siege to the Avenue goal. They forced four corners in quick succession but just could not get an equaliser as the home side’s defence held firm with goalkeeper Nathan Murray making two outstanding saves in this time.
Avenue returned for the second half with Brian Corry in their line up but the opening period of play saw the visitors create the better chances. Indeed, the Avenue defence experienced some worrying moments at this stage of the game and as the third quarter drew to a close, Murray pulled off another impressive save.
With the game just inside the final quarter, the winners opened a two-goal advantage. Dylan Casey saw his powerful low drive parried onto the upright by the visitor’s goalie, Gavin Connolly but Segun Junaid was following up and he drilled the rebound to the net.
With four minutes remaining substitute Eimhin Courtney beat a number of defenders before shooting low to the corner of the net. In the final minute Nicki Twmasai took the ball past a number of Avondale players before finding the net to seal victory.
Paddy O’Malley was outstanding at left full back for the winners on a day when Nathan Murray, Segun Junaid and Kaylan O’Loughlin also impressed.

Avenue United: Nathan Murray; Luke Hayes, Paddy O’Malley, Lee Quirke, Kaylan O’Loughlin, Dylan Casey, Eanna Fennell, Nicki Twumasai, Evan Twomey, Gary Roche, Segun Junaid.
Subs: Brian Corry for Roche (half-time); Eimhin Courtney for Quirke (63 minutes); Lee O’Callaghan for Twomey (86 minutes).
Avondale United: Gavin Connolly; Lorcan Finegan, Brian Creagh, Darragh Kelly, Gavin Fawen, Buster Holland, Joe Logue, David Hurley, Conor O’Driscoll, PJ Crean, John Cotton.
Referee: Pat Gleeson;
linesmen: Trevor White and Julian Stanford.