Carrick into last 16 once again
Carrick United 1 - Greenhills-Greenpark 0
Carrick United, the Waterford Premier League champions are through to the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup for a remarkable 8th consecutive year following this latest victory on Sunday last. Carrick carved out the first attacking move of the game on 9 minutes when John Keyes squared the ball to John Murphy but the Greenhills central defender Daniel Reid cut out the danger. Timmy Ryan was involved in a good move five minutes later, picking out John Murphy from the right but the latter was unable to keep his effort on target. Ryan and Anthony Power combined after 34 minutes to get the ball through to John Keyes but his effort from 25 yards was well held by the visiting goalkeeper Karl Doherty. The remainder of the first half produced very little in the attacking football and we had to wait until the 8th minute of the second half for another shot at goal. David Ryan, the visiting midfield player produced a decent save from Adrian Walsh with a crisp shot from 25 yards. The home side put together a good move on 56 minutes. Barry Walsh spayed the ball out wide right to Timmy Ryan who delivered a low ball to the near post where John Murphy was lurking but Karl Doherty got down smartly to smother the ball. Adrian Walsh, the Carrick Unite goalkeeper and player-manager kept his team in the competition with a stunning save on 67 minutes. AndriSondi pulled the ball back from the right endline to Damien Dunne who looked as if he had found the roof of the net some somehow Walsh clawed the ball away from underneath his crossbar. Carrick opened up the extratime period in fine fettle and they went close two minutes into the first period when Timmy Ryan squared the ball to John Murphy but he missed his intended target by inches. The Dubliners were reduced to ten players after three minutes of the second period of extratime when Karl Kearrns, an 80th minute substitute picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Timmy Ryan. The game was destined for a penalty shoot-out but two minutes from the conclusion on outfield play Carrick scored a dramatic winning goal. They won a right wing corner kick which was taken by Ian Cleary. James Walsh attempted to make clean contact with the ball but it flew up into the air and Glen Keane who had come on as a 73rd minute replacement for John Keyes was perfectly positioned to head the ball to the net from inside the six yards box.
Carrick United. Adrian Walsh, Dale O'Mahony, John Walsh, Anthony O'Donnell, James Walsh, John Murphy, Ian Cleary, Anthony Power, Timmy Ryan, John Keyes, Barry Walsh.
Subs. Glen Keane for Keyes (73 mins) Richard Lawrence for Barry Walsh (90 ,ins) Anthony Fitzpatrick for Cleary (110 mins)
Greenhills- Greenbank. Karl Doherty, Dominick Clerkin, Mark Cullen, Alan Nugent, Daniel Reid, David Ryan, Eoin McCurtain, Darren Goode, Daniel McGeraghty, Andri Sondi, Sean Bergin.
Subs. Damien Dunne for Goode (27 mins) Karl Kearns for Reid (80 mins) Gary Sherry for Cullen (88 mins)
Referee. Richie Brazil. Assistants. Paul Butler, Noel Purcell.
Two Waterford United teams in action this weekend
Waterford United will play their first home pre-season game on Friday of this week when they host Shamrock Rovers at the RSC with a 7pm kick-off time. The following day the Blues Under 19 team will play a vital home match against Cork City at the same venue in the Elite Under 19 League. The visitors are five points behind the locals but they have a game in hand so it is important that Johnny Browne's side get something from this match. Since the new year, Waterford have taken just one point from a possible six so this is a massive match for the young Blues. Kick-off is at 2pm. Back on the FAI Junior Cup scene Tramote travel to play the cup favourites Sherriff YC in Dublin on Sunday next. The seasiders suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to St Joseph's on Saturday night last. The following week the Villa will host Liffey Wanderers in Connors Park.
