KILDRUM TIGERS summonsed many of their old qualities to book their place in the next round of the FAI Junior Cup.
Kildrum Tigers 4 Erne Wanderers 2
The St Johnston men are on the march into the national phase of the competition once more after Shane Brown’s team came from two-nil down to send Erne crashing out at Station Road Park.
First Division Erne made light of the division that stands between these sides as goals by Barry Mulligan and Shane McGrath had the visitors two up at the break.
The scoreline felt like a deception with the Tigers having had a host of chances, but second-half goals by James Melly, Declan Curtis, William Lynch and Ethan Coll sealed a trip to Abbeyfeale United in south Limerick next weekend.
Kildrum, joint top of the table in the Premier Division of the Donegal League, are back with the grit, passion, heart and hunger of old this season and their second-half here will surely have done wonders.
They defended generously in the opening period, though, and when they parted ways at the interval those goals rang haunting chimes in the home dressing room.
Erne (below), at that stage, were surely thinking of the long journey to Limerick themselves.
They took the lead on 27 minutes when Mulligan finished from close range after Kildrum failed to avert the danger from a corner.
It came about after Aidan Simmons, the Kildrum goalkeeper, superbly saved with his legs from David Dolan’s driving effort, the home rearguard having been opened much too easily.
Kildrum had been given prior warning with McGrath whizzing an attempt off the outside of the post, but Erne doubled their lead right on the stroke of half-time. With Kildrum calling offside, referee Joe McHugh – correctly, it must be said – played on and McGrath tucked home from Dolan’s centre.
Kildrum were rocked to the core, but roared back with two goals in the space of 80 seconds, eight minutes into the second half.
Melly, a nephew of former Northern Ireland international and ex-Finn Harps manager Felix Healy, glanced one back for Kildrum when he connected with Brian Coll’s corner.
A new signing at Kildrum this season, Melly’s presence in the engine room has certainly added to their arsenal. With Erne still reeling from the concession of the first goal, Kildrum added another to draw level when Curtis beat the offside trap to slot past Sean Taylor.
All the goals came in a 15-minute spell for Kildrum, who were ahead in the 64th minute when Man of the Match Lynch – whose display epitomised his team’s desire – powered in from a free kick.
Substiute Ethan Coll, released by Gareth Colhoun’s pass, added the fourth and Kildrum were on their way.
Colhoun was denied by Taylor, but they’d done enough to ensure that their earlier misses hadn’t proved costly.
Lynch had a golden opportunity early on before Damian Crossan – who, along with Melly lined out for the Donegal League’s Oscar Traynor side last night – headed just wide from an inviting Coll corner.
Curtis, twice, and Oran Higgins had chances with Higgins thwarted by Taylor early in the second half before the dam burst and Kildrum roared through.
Kildrum Tigers: Aidan Simmons; Gary Crossan, Jonny McGinty, Jonny Carlin (Jamie McKinney 89), Brian Coll; Oran Higgins, James Melly (Daniel Doherty 88), Damian Crossan, Gareth Colhoun; William Lynch, Declan Curtis (Ethan Coll 62).
Erne Wanderers: Sean Taylor; Michael Dolan, Michael McNeely, Cian Dolan, Alan Russell, Shane McGrath, David Dorrian, Barry Mulligan, David Dolan; Seamus Kane, Philip Patton.
Referee: Joe McHugh.
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