KILDRUM TIGERS were brutally punished for a series of defensive errors last night by Abbeyfeale United in the FAI Junior Cup.
Abbeyfeale United 5 Kildrum Tigers 0
The Tigers arrived in south Limerick with serious designs on a lasting run in junior soccer’s blue ribband competition, but were handed their coats and frog-marched to the door by Abbeyfeale.
All five goals, including a Thomas Smith hat-trick, came in the first half with Packie O’Connor and Paudie Smith also on the mark for the Limerick Desmond League side.
[adrotate group=”88″]The reality at this level is that you cannot defend so generously and get away with it and, for the opening 45 minutes, Kildrum were obliging opponents.
What will perhaps stick in the Tigers’ throats more than anything was the lack of justice their performance did for themselves and the game was gone from them, 3-0 down after 22 minutes, before they could get into it.
Kildrum have history when it comes to making life difficult for themselves. Just six days previously, they went 2-0 down against First Division Erne Wanderers in the previous round of this competition before hitting four goals in the second half to advance.
Here, they were simply made pay the ultimate price.
[adrotate group=”80″]They had been given warnings when the dangerous O’Connor got a shot away from the left edge of the penalty area, but his effort whizzed beyond Aidan Simmons’ far post.
A sliced clearance by the Kildrum ‘keeper, having been put under pressure by a loose backpass, was siezed upon by O’Connor, but again Kildrum survived.
They buckled in the 10th minute as O’Connor’s centre was steered in by Smith.
[adrotate group=”46″]Kildrum were well off the pace in those moments and, before Shane Brown’s team had a chance to shake the heads clear, Abbeyfeale added a second, Smith tucking home from close range with Kildrum’s rearguard all at sea.
The deckchairs were rearranged with Damian Crossan – who started in the unorthodox position of centre-back – traded places with James Melly.
But Abbeyfeale sensed blood and when O’Connor got an inch he took a mile, ghosting in around the back to round Simmons and add number three.
[adrotate group=”76″]Just after the half-hour, the evening became an ordeal for the St Johnston side. Melly was dispossessed by Joe Kelliher, who pulled the strings for the home team in the engine room. Kelliher slipped in Paudie Smith, but after Simmons made the initial save Thomas Smith scored from the rebound.
Just before half-time, his third and Abbeyfeale’s fifth arrived. Kelliher was the architect with a neat through ball for Smith to apply the finish.
O’Connor drilled over as Abbeyfeale kept the pressure on and dejected Kildrum parted ways confused, dazed and rocked to the core.
Chances were few and far between for Kildrum, although William Lynch did draw a save from Billy Quirk in the Abbeyfeale goal, his shot saved after being played in by Declan Curtis.
[adrotate group=”38″]The Tigers frontmen fended off scraps, though, with a low daisy-cutter by Damian Crossan failing to really work Quirk.
Simmons prevented the torment from worsening as he saved from Michael Sheehy 20 minutes from time.
By then, Abbeyfeale’s passage into Tuesday’s sixth round draw was long since safe with the road to the Aviva looking longer than ever for Kildrum, who now return to concentrate on attempting to prise a first Donegal League Premier Division title in 15 years to Station Road Park.
Abbeyfeale United: Billy Quirk, Cormac Roche, Thomas Sexton, Chris Smith, Denis Fitzgerald, Paudie Smith, Ryan Carroll, Joe Kelliher, Thomas Smith, Barry Sheehy, Packie O’Connor. Subs used: Conor Horan, Michael Sheehan, Michael Keaney, Paul Doherty.
Kildrum Tigers: Aidan Simmons, Gary Crossan, Brian Coll, Jonny McGinty, Damian Crossan, Ethan Coll, James Melly, Jonny Carlin, Gareth Colhoun, Declan Curtis, William Lynch. Subs: Jamie McKinney for G.Crossan (half-time), Daniel Doherty for Carlin (half-time), Shane McIntyre for Colhoun (68).
Referee: E Noonan.
ROUNDUP
BEFORE Kildrum’s loss to Abbeyfeale last night, all three of Donegal’s other representatives in the Junior Cup suffered defeats yesterday.
Glengad reached the quarter-finals of the Junior Cup last season, when they lost to Pike Rovers, but Shane Byrne’s team will have to concentrate on domestic matters in Inishowen now after a loss to Crumlin United.
The game was scoreless at half-time, but 16-year-old Kelvin Rogers put Crumlin in front.
Before Glengad – two-in-a-row Inishowen League champions – could shake that goal from their system, Ian Touhy added a second and Dave Bracken’s third gave Robbie Keane’s former club a passage into the next round.
Donegal League champions Drumoghill made the long trip to Cork, but were beaten 3-0 by Grattan United. Goals by JP O’Sullivan and Greg Morrissey put Grattan 2-0 up and there was no way back for Drumoghill, as Garry Coughlan struck a third for the home side.
Greencastle FC suffered what was said to be a ‘controversial’ 3-1 loss at Rush Athletic yesterday afternoon, Pat McLaughlin’s team at this stage of the competition for the first time in the club’s history. Jamie McCormick netted for the Chapel Lane side.
Tags:
