First Division table-toppers Mervue United B finished their 2008 campaign with a relatively comfortable victory over Third Division side Naomh Bricain to advance to the fourth round of the Michael Byrne Cup on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon in Fahy’s Field.
While the home side played much the better football during the opening half, it wasn’t until the deadlock was broken five minutes before the interval that they were able to shake off the stubborn resistance of Naomh Bricain. Three further goals followed in the second half as the visitors lacked a cutting edge to finish off some good approach play.
Both sides’ left wingers were prominent early on as Paul Mulkerrins chased a through ball for the visitors but was denied by the defensive instincts of ‘keeper Noel McDonnell, who dashed out to clear.
At the other end, Damien Kenny drilled a ball across the face of goal but a finishing touch was not to be found.
Mulkerrins continued to be Bricain’s best attacking outlet but wasted a decent chance to cross before Frank Joyce powered forward from midfield, before being crowded out on the edge of the box with Mulkerrins screaming for the ball in acres of space to his left.
A better cross from the left wing caused trouble for left full Mark Connelly but he recovered well to block Ronan Conroy’s effort. Mervue were passing the ball well until they got to the final third, and it was ironic that a long hopeful ball should give them their best chance on 31 minutes but Eoin O’Boyle couldn’t beat Sean Mannion from a tricky angle.
O’Boyle went closer still in the 39th minute with a curling effort from outside the area which narrowly avoided the top corner. A minute later the lead goal arrived when Martin McDonagh conceded a penalty when he unfortunately slipped when inabout to clear his lines inside the area and he was forced to handle while prone on the ground to deny Kenny a clear strike on goal.
McDonnell was summoned out of goal to take the kick and he duly obliged with a shot into the bottom left corner.
The home side proceeded to control the game after the break, with substitute David O’Boyle in particular pulling the strings in midfield. The best move of the game occurred just before the hour mark when Mark Boyle played in Kenny on the left wing. His cut-back located Eoin O’Boyle but the striker scooped a shot high and over the bar from twelve yards out.
He was more infinitely more accurate six minutes later when an inswinging corner picked him out at the back post and he guided the ball into the bottom corner for the crucial second goal. Naomh Bricain were continuing to threaten on the break but Sean Conneely’s shot, which had McDonnell scrambling but went wide, was as close as they came.
Two substitutes combined on 65 to make it 3-0 when David O’Boyle played an incisive through ball for Mark Lynch to run onto and he knocked the ball through Mannion’s legs to score with his very first touch. Bricain pushed on in the last 20 minutes in search of a consolation but McDonnell’s only action was a routine save near the end.
The fourth goal arrived in the final seconds when Mark Lynch sent Eoin O’Boyle clear and the striker was fortunate when his first attempt was smothered by Mannion but fell into his path, and he had an easy task to roll the ball into an empty net from close range and conclude a good afternoon’s work for the winners.
Mervue United B: Noel McDonnell; Kevin O’Reilly, Dara Devlin, Alan Tormey, Mark Connelly; Lloyd Concannon, James Connolly, Gary O’Connor, Damien Kenny; Eoin O’Boyle, Mark Boyle. Subs: David O’Boyle for O’Connor (45 mins ), Mark Lynch for Connolly (61 mins ), Colin Nolan for Kenny (61mins ).
Naomh Bricain: Sean Mannion; Martin McDonagh, Peadar Conneely, Shane Cashin, Darren Grealish; Michael Mannion, Sean Conneely, Frank Joyce, Paul Mulkerrins; Ronan Conroy, Peadar O’Brien. Subs: Sean Breathnach for Peadar Conneely (52 mins ), Anthony Grealish for Mulkerrins (75 mins ), Peter Naughton for McDonagh (88 mins ).
