Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

When the draw for the second round of the Connacht Junior Cup was made, the one fixture that stood out was the meeting of Boyle Celtic and Salthill Devon. The outcome was as close as expected, or at least the scoreline indicates so, as the Galway side prevailed 3-2 after a well contested encounter at the North Roscommon venue.

Following a long spell out with injury, Mikey Fox was introduced as a substitute in Devon’s previous three games and his contributions there indicated that he was looking to get back in the starting XI again.

He was duly selected on this occasion and made an early impact by putting them ahead when he applied a close-range finish after a corner broke to him in the box. The advantage was not to last long as Darren Foley levelled matters for the home side, before two goals in quick succession before the break left matters tied at 2-2 at the interval.

The visitors again took the lead when Ben Molloy did all the hard work as he set up a tap in for striker Jack Arra; before Boyle restored parity once more through a Calum Andrews finish, and while the home side enjoyed their fair share of possession, they rarely threatened the visitors back four thereafter.

Chances were at a premium at both ends, but Devon took full advantage of one that came their way. A series of corners in quick succession had Boyle under pressure, and when a Matthew Barrett header came down off the crossbar, central defender Calym Crowe was in the perfect position to force it over the line to make it 3-2 for what proved to be the match winner.

Salthill Devon B also followed the same road to Roscommon where they faced CP Ajax and emerged 3-1 winners with goals from Killian Keady, Daniel Hoare and Joey Bradshaw.

Maree/Oranmore’s two teams enjoyed the most comfortable passage to the next round possible, as both recorded easy wins. The A team registered a 6-0 away win over Kiltimagh-Knock, with Aaron Molloy hitting a hat-trick, with further goals by Liam McDonagh (2) and Eoghan McDonagh.

Pictured: Mervue United’s Lucas Vencele plays a ball as Adam Lavelle of Maree/Oranmore tries to close him down.