PADDY DOHERTY’S first-half doubled fired Illies Celtic into the next round of the FAI Junior Cup at the expense of Convoy Arsenal this afternoon.
Convoy Arsenal 1 Illies Celtic 2
Doherty’s brace, coming either side of Anthony Bogle’s goal for Convoy, saw the Inishowen League First Division side progress after a win over Ryan Carlin’s outfit from the top flight of the Donegal League.
Ten-man Convoy – who saw Emmett McNulty sent off – had their chances to draw level and thought they’d done so, only for James Kee’s headed goal to be chalked off by referee Liam McLaughlin, who penalised Convoy for a push at the far post as Kee rose to flick Darren Harvey’s corner to the net in the 62nd minute.
[adrotate group=”37″]John Doherty’s Illies had a disappointing start to the season, but have now won three games in a week having beaten Rasheney in both the League and the Charlie O’Donnell Cup in the last seven days.
They got off the mark here when, from John Pio Donaghey’s delicate cross from the right hand side, Doherty turned home past Chris O’Donnell at the near post in the 12th minute.
Illies had threatened moments earlier when Kevin O’Loughlin won possession and fed into Dominick Owen Coyle, but Kee got back in time to make the interception.
[adrotate group=”38″]Convoy were level just seven minutes later, though, as Bogle worked the chance on the right-hand side of the penalty area before sending a cool effort across goalkeeper Noone into the far corner.
Convoy Arsenal
Convoy were inches from taking the lead when, after Eunan Kelly was fouled on the left edge of the penalty box, Harvey’s free kick clipped the top of the crossbar on the way over.
Doherty put Illies ahead again in the 35th minute. Again Donaghey played a big part in the build-up and, from the edge of the box, Doherty’s crisp shot beat O’Donnell into the bottom corner.
[adrotate group=”46″]Just before half-time, Doherty was a whisker away from his hat-trick. Paul O’Leary’s back pass to O’Donnell was intercepted by the Illies captain, but his superb lob flew just past the far post.
At the break, player-boss Carlin – who was without Jason Elliott and Emmett Patterson – rang the changes and Convoy might’ve been level early in the second half.
Bogle had a big chance just two minutes in, but he deftly rolled wide before Carlin himself shot off target and it took the tips of Jonny Noone’s toes to keep Illies in front as he saved from Kelly.
[adrotate group=”81″]Bogle teed up Carlin, whose shot flew over before Kee thought he’d levelled only for the whistle to cut short the celebrations.
Convoy were dealt a blow when they were reduced to ten men on 73 minutes as left-back McNulty, already on a yellow, was given his marching orders for an over-zealous tackle.
Carlin had a sight of the target seven minutes from the end, but curled a delicious effort wide and Illies managed to hold on with the Stranaclea men completing a busy week by booking a place in the draw for the next round after a sometimes tetchy contest at Orchard Park.
Convoy Arsenal: Chris O’Donnell; Chris Lynch (Paul O’Leary 31), Shane McLaughlin (Lee Guthrie half-time), James Kee, Emmett McNulty; Marty Vance (Kealan Gillen 76), Darren Harvey, Gary Brolly, Fergus Carson (Ryan Carlin half-time); Eunan Kelly, Anthony Bogle.
Illies Celtic: Jonny Noone; Stephen Grant, Dominck Doherty, William McLaughlin, Kevin McGonagle; John Pio Donaghey, Liam O’Connor (David Doherty 82), Kevin O’Loughlin, Martin Coyle (Steven Doherty 66); Dominick Owen Coyle (Gavin Doherty 76), Paddy Doherty.
Referee: Liam McLaughlin.
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