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Classy Carrick end Redcastle’s
run
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Redcastle United...1 (McIntyre 32) Carrick United...1 (Kavanagh 62) Carrick United win 5-3 on penalties after extra-time by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at Foyle Park AND SO the great adventure ends. The long road that Redcastle United started out on in early Autumn in Tullyvinny reached a dead end at Foyle Park, Redcastle, on the first Sunday in March. Bryan Bell’s steely side had exceeded all expectations by getting to the last eight of the of the FAI Junior Cup, but after seeing off Cork City side Ballyphehane on penalties in the last round, their luck ran out on Sunday as Carrick United emerged victorious 5-3 on spot kicks after the match had ended one all. |
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Bell was magnanimous in
defeat. He acknowledged that the Carrick-on-Suir side
had been a cut above his outfit and had deserved to win.
Redcastle have a lot to be proud of after their cup run. Martin Farren collected the FAI man of the match award. It was appropriate that the accolade went to a Redcastle defender since, including this game, they had given up a miserly three goals in the competition. Liam Well’s Waterford Premier Division champions were unlike any side Redcastle had faced in the competition to date. Skillful and strong, they put the home side under enormous pressure and as a result the Redcastle struggled to keep possession of the ball. The 2004 finalists opened well and might have taken the lead on seven minutes when Ian Cleary ghosted behind the Redcastle defence to head John Walsh’s free wide. |
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Two minutes later Cleary
burst through on goal but under pressure from Redcastle
keeper Gerard Crossan pulled his shot narrowly wide. Ex-Waterford United midfielder Wayne Fitzgerald caused the Redcastle defence problems with his runs from deep and on the quarter hour mark he played a one-two with Anthony Power but hooked the return over Crossan’s bar. Then, against the run of play, Redcastle took the lead in the 32nd minute. The quick-thinking Paul Doherty played a superb first time through ball from the right side of midfield to the inside left channel where Eddie McIntyre collected, advanced to the edged of the Carrick box and struck a powerful low drive past Adrian Walsh. |
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In the 39th minute the
visitors should have leveled when sloppy Redcastle
passing in midfield presented Carrick United forward
Daryl Kavanagh with the ball 30 yards out. He drove past
the Redcastle centre-backs and shot but Crossan parried
and Martin Farren completed the clearance. The team from the Waterford/Tipperary border town produced Reading and Ireland’s Stephen Hunt and in Kavanagh they had another all-action attacker who liked nothing better than to run with the ball right at the middle of the Redcastle defence. Somehow Redcastle made it to the break up by a goal, but there was to be no relief as Carrick penned them in to their own half in at the start of the second period. It was no surprise when the visitors equalised in the 62nd minute. Stephen Hassey was fouled just outside the Redcastle area. Kavanagh stepped up and curled a free kick, |
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right-footed, over the red
and black wall and past Crossan’s desperate dive. The visitors, cheered on by around 50 supporters, pressed for the go ahead goal. Defender Anthony O’Donnell headed Richard Lawrence’s corner straight at Crossan before Stephen Hassey blasted past the left post after a Carrick corner fell messily to him inside the Redcastle box. At the other end Adrian Walsh was having a quiet afternoon, although he did have to stretch to tip Brian Treacy’s in-swinging 73rd minute free over his crossbar. At the other end Farren headed away a fearsome drive that looked like it was heading for Crossan’s top right hand corner as Bell’s boys fell back to their own area. Despite Carrick United’s dominance the game was poised on a knife-edge and from another Treacy delivery, this time in injury time, Redcastle almost stole a win. Martin Farren popped up at the back post and, left-footed, directed the ball on goal, Walsh bundled the ball back in the big defender’s direction but this time he was crowded out by three hoped-shirted defenders and the chance was gone. Extra time’s only incident of note came at the end of the first period when Barry Murphy’s shot appeared to be handled in the box by Redcastle captain Cathal Faulkner, but Stephen Toner waved away all appeals and sent the irked Wells back into his technical area with a glare and a wave of the arm. Penalties ensued. Both sides converted their first three spot kicks before Carrick United substitute Barry Murphy scored to make it 4-3 in the visitor’s favour Eddie McIntyre stepped up to take Redcastle’s fourth and fired the ball low against Walsh’s legs and suddenly Redcastle on the brink of elimination. Anthony O’Donnell converted calmly to make it a perfect five out of five for Carrick United in the shootout and for the Foyle Park men that was that for this year in the FAI Junior Cup. Redcastle United: Gerald Crossan, Marty McNutt, Brian Treacy, Martin Farren, Cathal Faulkner, Jimmy Gallagher, Andy Porter, Eamon Reddin, Joe Doherty, Paul Doherty, Edie McIntyre. Subs: Benny McDermott for Gallagher (68), Liam Davenport for Joe Doherty (90). Carrick United: Adrian Walsh, James Walsh, Brian Barry, Anthony O’Donnell, John Walsh, Richard Lawrence, Anthony Power, Wayne Fitzgerald, Daryl Kavanagh, Ian Cleary Stephen Hassey. Referee Stephen Toner (Donegal) For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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