Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

The FAI Junior Cup has a certain aura about it and while it is a competition that has not done any favours for Galway League clubs in a lifetime, it always presents a hope that someday a local side will offer a challenge and take home the Blue Riband of the junior soccer game.

Salthill Devon did make it to the semi-final stage a few seasons ago, but their challenge was ended by Villa FC; and it was another southern side, Waterford Crystal, who overcame Athenry in the final, way back in the noughties.

Three Galway sides kick started their campaign at the last-64 national stage on Sunday last after coming through the regional qualifiers, and the outcome saw Salthill Devon and Mervue United register wins, but there was no joy for Craughwell United who exited in Kildare.

In a reduced Premier League programme. Renmore picked up a crucial point in a draw with Athenry to move out of the bottom two in the table; while in the Championship, Knocknacarra picked up an away success over Mervue United B as they continued their upward surge in the table.

Salthill Devon B and Galway Bohs were both winners as they maintained their promotion challenge in Division One; while Bearna Na Forbacha’s impressive form continued as a home win over Moyne Villa B allows them to sit alongside the Headford outfit in joint second position in Division Two.

FAI JUNIOR CUP

Salthill Devon 4

Trim Celtic 0

This was somewhat of a slow burner for the home side as they dominated proceedings from beginning to end, but still had to rely on two late goals to give them a greater degree of comfort and a place in the last 32.

They threatened a second minute breakthrough, but Colin Kelly headed a Mick Lee cross just over, before the Meath outfit offered their only shot on target moments later, when Arek Mamala had to get down to keep out a John O’Keeffe shot.

With Conor Barry back in action to add more thrust to the Devon attack, the Portumna native set up Kelly, but on this occasion his effort came back off the crossbar; and a moment later he had a shot taken off the line by Walsh.

The breakthrough eventually arrived on 29 minutes when Mikey Fox fired an effort into the top corner from outside the box; and they doubled their lead a minute from the break when Timmy Molloy stroked home from the penalty spot after a foul on Matthew Barrett.

O’Keeffe went close again for the visitors on 52 minutes when a free kick came down off the crossbar, but they hardly threatened again in the contest. Devon made the game safe on 88 minutes when Jack Arra rounded Connell and slotted home; before another substitute Brian Tolan sealed the win with the fourth as he banged home a rebound after Arra was denied by the goalkeeper.

Salthill Devon: Mamala, D. Collins, Lee, Scally, Crowe (Hudner 83mins), Molloy, J Collins, Fox (McDonell 65), Barry (Tolan 70), Kelly (Arra 75), Barrett (Princewell 87).

Trim Celtic: Connell, Murray, Fitzgerald (Courtney 70), Walsh, Ennis, Faulkner (inj, Burke 39), Brophy, O’Connell, Gibney (Leavy h-t), Fox, O’Keeffe (Williams70).

Referee: Joe Hession.

Pictured: Athenry goalkeeper TJ Forde saves at the feet of Renmore’s Cian Specht at West Park last weekend. Photos: Joe O’Shaughnessy.