Penalties needed for Bridge A win

Rhine Rovers 3   Bridge United A 3
(after extra time, Bridge Utd A won 4-3 on penalties)

This Clare cup quarter-final at Lees Road on Sunday proved to be a tremendously exciting contest, with Adrian Whyte’s save from Martin Reidy’s penalty proving to be the final act in a tie that provided plenty of entertainment. When the final whistle sounded, the Bridge players’ and supporters’ ecstasy was in stark contrast to Rhine’s anguish.
A 3-0 half-time lead for the Bridge was clawed back with two minutes remaining in a classic comeback from Rhine that featured two sendings-off, extra-time and the drama of a penalty shootout.
Rhine were the authors of their own downfall, gifting three goals to Bridge in the first half.  The first, an own goal, ricoched wickedly off Jamie Fahy, before some weak defending saw Bridge nick a second through Adrian White on the half-hour mark and the writing appeared to be on the wall for Rhine.  Just before half-time a backpass to Aidan O’Connor in the Rhine goal saw the keeper slip at the most inopportune moment, allowing Jamie O’Gorman to slide the ball home.
Currently leading the first division league, Rhine were looking to make the semi-final stage for the first time in 27 years and their second-half display was in stark contrast to their first-half performance.
Shortly after Christy O’Brien shot wide from close range Cillian Duggan soared above the pack to power home a headed corner on the 60-minute mark.  Rhine drove at Bridge and when Davy O’Brien was taken down in the penalty area on 68 minutes, his brother Johnny tucked away the resultant spot-kick.  Bridge defended manfully with Gavin Downes and Mark Culbert prominent but when Christy Griffin received a second yellow the pendulum swung back to Rhine.  With two minutes left on the clock, Martin Reidy smashed a ball off the underside of the crossbar and it appeared to have crossed to line but substitute Conor Hanrahan made sure as he headed in the rebound to spark frenzied celebrations on the Rhine line.
Extra time saw 10-man Bridge drive manfully for the win but when Davy O’Brien saw a second yellow with eight minutes remaining, both teams seemed to settle for penalties.  Aidan O’Connor brilliantly saved two of Bridge’s kicks but Whyte, having started up front, was to be the hero of the day as he saved three penalties after taking over in goal for the injured Tuohy.
Fifteen-year-old Kevin Kelly scored what proved to be the winning penalty. He replaced the injured Tuohy and went into attack, with White taking over goalkeeping duties. Other penalty scorers for the winners were John Downes, Jamie O’Gorman and Jonathon Hayes.
Kieran Quinlan saw his effort hit the post while Mark Culbert and Adrian White had their attempts saved.
Rhine: Rovers: Aidan O’Connor; Jamie Fahy, Cillian Duggan, Paul Johnston, Martin McInerney, Davy O’Brien, Ivor Whyte, Kevin Johnston, Christy O’Brien, Stephen Monahan, Johnny O’Brien.
Subs: Martin Reidy for McInerney and Conor Hanrahan for Monahan.
Bridge United A: Paul Tuohy; Jonathon Hayes, Johnathon Downes, Mark Culbert, Brendan Murphy; Eric Cahill, Chris Griffin, Shane Devanney, Kieran Quinlan, Adrian White, Jamie O’Gorman.
Subs: Kevin Kelly for Tuohy.
Newmarket Celtic A continued their march towards the league and cup double when they booked a place in the cup semi-final by beating the finalists of the past two years, Bridge Utd B.
Newmarket are having a great season and are odds-on to win the league title.
Bridge B have dumped a lot of fancied sides out of this competition in the past two seasons before failing at the final hurdle on each occasion.
From the outset on Sunday, the visitors took control and were two goals clear midway through the opening half.
Darren Cullinan’s corner was deflected to the net by a Bridge defender for the opening goal. Eoin O’Brien doubled their advantage shortly afterwards.
The home side were boosted when Mike McNamara pulled one back and they had a chance to level shortly before the break. The score at half-time was 2-1.
The winners restored their two goal advantage when Stephen Kelly goaled early in the second half.

Bridge United B: John Mulready; Jason White, Albert Finnan, Gavin White, Billy Maxwell; Tadhg Keogh, Robert Conlon, Mike McNamara, Stephen Stewart, Niall Gilligan, Greg Deegan.
Newmarket A: Jason Casey; Darren Cullinan, Enda Kelly Mark Donlon, David O’Grady, Mike Devitt, Stephen Kelly, Eoin O’Brien, Paudie Hayes; Daithí O’Connell, Kieran Devitt.
Subs: Seamus Considine for Donlon, Gary Collins for K Devitt; Neil Ryan for O’Connell; Glen Murray for Hayes and Seamus Lawlor for M Devitt.