Connolly surprise Avenue in Lisdoonvarna

Connolly Celtic 1   Àvenue United 0

AVENUE United crashed out of this season’s Munster Junior Cup competition when they were beaten by first-division side Connolly Celtic at Lisdoonvarna on Sunday. Before referee, John Murray got things underway, Connolly were dealt a blow when their regular netminder Niall Quinn was ruled out due to a shoulder injury and his place between the posts was taken by Bernard Field, normally an outfield player.
The prize for the winners is a fourth-round home tie against crack Limerick side Pike Rovers in January.
Both sides settled well in the soft underfoot conditions and the first opportunity came after six minutes when a glancing Herlihy header was just wide of the Connolly goal following a good David Smith cross.
The outcome of the game was decided in the 10th minute when a sweeping move down the left wing saw Jan Feck and ex-Avenue favourite, Mickey Burns combine before the latter’s good cross was met by the in-rushing Kieran Dillon whose crisp firm header beat John Healy in the Avenue goal.
This goal prompted Avenue into action and for the remainder of the first period, they surged forward in search of an equaliser. Their cause was not helped on the half-hour mark when they lost influential full-back, Casey, due to injury. However, they created quite a few chances with Alex Ezuko, substitute Dave McCarthy and David Herlihy coming close.
The first yellow card arrived five minutes later when Ken Kennedy was penalised for a late tackle and from the resultant free, Mahoney broke clear for Avenue and seemed to be upended in the area but referee, Murray, who was in a good position, was unimpressed by the appeals and waved play on.
The second half began with Connolly sending Senan McCarthy into the fray in place of Keith O’Looney and Avenue continued to throw everything at Connolly but some frantic defending by the winners and some very wasteful play by Avenue contributed to the end result.
A great right-footed effort by Avenue’s David Smith forced a great save by keeper, Bernard Field on 75 minutes when he dived full stretch to push the ball around the post at the expense of a corner. Substitutes, Corry and Mullen were introduced by the Ennis side but try as they did, they failed to get back on terms. Jan Feck was outstanding in midfied for Connolly as were the Dillon brothers, while Bernard Field proved an excellent replacement between the posts.
Avenue’s disappointment ontinues as they lost the league cup final some weeks ago to Ennis rivals Lifford before crashing out of the FAI cup and now crashing out of Munster.

Avenue United: John Healy; Simon Cuddihy, Dylan Casey, Mattie Nugent,  David Russell, Alex Ezuko, Pa Wilson, David Herlihy Barry Nugent, David Smith, Mikey Mahoney.
Subs: David McCarthy for Casey (inj), Colm Mullen for Wilson; Alan Roche for Mahoney.
Connolly Celtic: Bernard Field, Alan Markham, Barry Lynch, Brian Connellan,  Kieran Dillon; Keith O’Looney, John Kelly, Ken Kennedy, Mickey Byrnes; Jan Feck, Brendan Dillon.
Subs: Pat Hogan for Burns, Senan McCarthy.