FAI Intermediate Cup Qtr Final Draw

[Donegalcelt]

Never easy in Fanad. It's a torture of a journey and I live in Letterkenny! I'll post a match report on here after the game if anybody wants it

[razor]

Never easy in Fanad. It's a torture of a journey and I live in Letterkenny! I'll post a match report on here after the game if anybody wants it

if you could please

[Donegalcelt]

Avondale jinx sinks Fanad

Fanad United 0
Avondale United 1


There will be a Cork name inscribed on the FAI Intermediate Cup next month after Donegal flag bearers Fanad United were defeated in yesterday’s semi-final by Avondale United at Triagh-A-Locha.
In fact, it was the second successive year Ollie Horgan’s team had been defeated by the Leesiders in the competition after a two goals to one triumph for John Caufield’s side on the peninsula last February. Now the southernmost county will have a local affair in the decider with Avondale due to meet either Carrigaline or Blaney United.
Last term, goals from Damien O’Connell and Mark O’Sullivan sandwiched Darragh Patton’s strike for the Ulster Senior League panel. However, Easter Saturday was decorated with just a solitary strike from Robbie Kiltraine.
The Avondale captain was on hand after 14 minutes to head home from eight yards after Thomas Hughes’ free-kick from the left was tellingly assisted by Noel Hartigan’s strength inside the area.
In the opening period, Fanad illustrated few of the characteristics that have seen them defeated only three times in almost two seasons. They threatened only intermittently with Davy Derry – who played through the pain barrier wearing a protective mask briefly after suffering a broken cheekbone in the last eight triumph over Bangor Celtic – coming close twice with headed chances. The first of which from Shane Sweeney’s searching delivery headed off the goalline by Ken Bruton, whilst the latter was narrowly over the bar.
During that spell, the hosts continually piled pressure on themselves with the concession of a number of frees in dangerous positions coupled with some sloppy passing from the defence. The Munster side were, of truth be told, reasonably comfortable until the changing of ends, competent on the ball on the majority of occasions.
The second instalment commenced in a similar fashion but when Paddy McGrenaghan moved from the left to the centre of midfield after Arthur Lynch’s withdrawal, the 1989 and 1995 Intermediate Cup winners belatedly showed some of their more positive characteristics. It was really in the last quarter-hour the visitors surrendered all attacking ambitions as Fanad grabbed the initiative. Their only real sight of goal came when O’Sullivan sizzled a well struck shot narrowly over Darren Nash’s crossbar.
Substitute Ciaran Sharkey was unlucky not to curl a well-flighted free into the top corner and the same player headed inches wide from late centre from Mark Friel as the search for a leveller became evermore desperate. In a frenetic conclusion, where the statuesque Deery was relocated in the frontline with the diminutive PJ Hagan and Patton, the Cork delegates almost popped but managed to hold firm with Hartigan marshalling the defence in increasingly difficult times.
Striker Patton twisted and turned in a congested penalty area in the depths of stoppage time to screw a shot inches wide of the post as appeals for a corner fell on deaf ears.
Moments later, one was awarded and with every single one of the 22 players in the confines in the 18-yard box, away goalkeeper David O’Keefe got his co-ordinates spot on and his clearance thereafter was the last action of what had proved to be something of a Jekyll and Hyde contest. The jinx of Avondale had struck again.
Fanad United: Darren Nash, Seamus Friel, Davy Deery, Patrick Patton, Shane Sweeney, Martin McAteer (Mark Friel 73), Paul Nash, Arthur Lynch (Ciaran Sharkey 73), Paddy McGrenaghan, PJ Hagan, Darragh Patton.
Avondale United: David O’Keffe, Thomas Hughes, Owen Costine, Noel Hartigan, John Ward, Michael Kiernan (John Cotter 44), Kenny Bruton, Rob Kiltraine, Mark O’Sullivan (Andy Goulding 83), Daniel Spratt (Gareth O’Donovan 79), Eoin O’Driscoll.
Referee: David Wogan.

[Clifford]

All Cork final - nice one. Hat's off to Avondale, played most rounds away from home if I remember correctly. A great feat to get to the final - let's hope it's a cracker. No goals in other semi so not decided yet who they play.

Well done Dale.