FAI Intermediate Cup – Round 3
Tigers Roar To Last Sixteen
Skerries Town………1
Kildrum Tigers……...2
Report by Chris McNulty
GARETH MULLEN netted a goal just two minutes after being introduced as a second half substitute against Skerries Town FC to send Kildrum Tigers into the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup for the first time in their history.
Yesterday afternoon’s clash was, as expected, a hard fought encounter, but in the end the St Johnston representatives didn’t let down their guard after hitting the front for the second time and they now join Fanad United as Donegal’s flag bearers in the next round.
Skerries had caused what was termed to have been the upset of the round in their previous round clash as they ousted Wayside Celtic (who famously dumped Finn Harps from the senior cup back in 1997) with a fine 2-1 victory over a side which had been tipped to go quite a distance this year.
Kildrum meanwhile had qualified for this round by virtue of an excellent two-nil win over arch-rivals Letterkenny Rovers and they were aiming to make the last 16 having missed out last year.
This time 12months ago, Fanad United knocked Kildrum out of the cup after the sides had unusually drawn each other despite making it through to the national stages.
‘Keeper John Roulstone came to Kildrum’s rescue on 20minutes when he was out well to dent Brendan Moore from firing Skerries into the lead after the lively frontman had weaved his way through the Tigers defence.
However, three minutes later, it was the travelling band of followers who were celebrating the opening goal.
Glen Bovaird worked a short corner back to Dermot Kelly and he sent in a teasing cross from the right which Russell Porter nodded down for Tommy McDonald.
In space on the edge of the six-yard box, McDonald needed no second invitation as he shot low beyond Eamonn Byrne in the Skerries goal.
Thereafter in the first period, it was pretty even in terms of possession with Kildrum coping well against what was a physical Skerries side who certainly weren’t to be found wanting in terms of hard challenges.
The hosts almost got back on level terms on the stroke of half time, but Martin Beggs saw his left footed effort from the corner of the penalty box turned over by Kildrum netminder Roulstone.
Skerries came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half and they were back on level terms 13 minutes in when substitute Barry Davey was on hand to tap home at the back post after Roulstone saved a header from Moore.
However, Kildrum were soon back in the ascendancy as Gareth Mullen got on the end of a Ronan Coyle pass, powered past the defence and slotted home from close range.
Dermot Kelly denied Skerries a way back into the contest soon after when he was alert to divert Martin Beggs’ goalbound effort off the goal-line while Glen Bovaird nearly put the game out of Skerries’ reach, but the butt of the post came to Eamon Byrne’s rescue.
The Leinster Senior League outfit had their misery compounded with eleven minutes left when goalscorer Barry Davey was shown his marching orders for a push on Russell Porter right in front of referee Tommy Geoghegan.
The Tigers should have added a third in stoppage time, but Johnny McGinty hesitated after rounding the ‘keeper and the chance was gone.
It mattered little however as the final whistle was soon blown by the match referee and Kildrum’s place in the last 16 was sealed.
Skerries Town: Eamon Byrne; Ben Gahan, Dermot Kelly, Paul Doherty, Niall Bolger; Martin Beggs, Neil Gallagher, Steven Beattie, Cian Connolly; Graham O’Flaherty, Brendan Moore. Subs: Barry Davey (for Connolly, 44mins); Gary Woodhead (for Kelly, 73mins); Darren Barlow (for Gallagher, 82mins).
Kildrum Tigers: John Roulstone; Dermot Kelly, Mark Callaghan, Paul Lynch, Paul Callaghan; Russell Porter, Glen Bovaird, Garrett Callaghan, Keith Hegarty; Tommy McDonald, Ronan Coyle. Subs: Gareth Mullen (for McDonald, 64mins); Johnny McGinty (for G.Callaghan, 87mins).
Referee: Tommy Geoghegan
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