By Mike Rafferty

THE holders Moyne Villa, along with Maree-Oranmore, Mervue United and Salthill Devon are all through to the semi-final of the Michael Byrne Cup, following weekend wins in contrasting fashion over Corrib Celtic, Athenry, Craughwell United and Renmore respectively.

In the only other game played at adult level, St Bernard’s conceded two late goals as they exited the Joe Ryan Cup against Hibernians.

Michael Byrne Cup

The Michael Byrne Cup quarter-final meeting between neighbours Moyne Villa and Corrib Celtic went along the expected lines as the high flying home team recorded an 8-2 success over a visiting side that are not exactly enjoying the best of good fortune in the Premier Division.

Two early goals through Kyle Greaney and Theo Joyce set the tone and when Moyne Villa fired home four more through Padraig Cunningham, JJ Oifah and Darragh Forde (two) in a productive spell before the break, they had long put the game to bed at 6-1, with Ryan Sheridan getting the visitors’ their lone reply.

Though the same bite and urgency wasn’t as evident or required on the resumption, Villa continued to threaten as Oifah with his second of the game and another from Alan Meenaghan eased them to an 8-2 success with Reece Burke getting a late consolation for the Annaghdown visitors.

Maree-Oranmore left it very late to get a winner against Athenry as they came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory. However, just before that and with the game in the balance, Corey Walker fired a penalty off target for the home side.

It was the winners who broke the deadlock when Liam McDonagh headed in, before goals from Calum Carroll and Morgan Leggett turned matters in Athenry’s favour.  Aaron Molloy became the Maree-Oranmore hero, with firstly the equaliser, before an additional time winner following a corner.

Craughwell United had to forfeit home advantage due to an unplayable pitch for their game against Mervue United and in a contest played on the All Weather in Fahy’s Field, it was the home side who prevailed by 4-1.

They opened up a 2-0 advantage in the opening quarter as Kody McCann and Charlie Concannon found the net but only good goalkeeping by Jason Daly prevented the visitors from getting back into it as smart saves kept out efforts from Kevin Molloy and Liam Mulveen. On the resumption, Tom Kidd and Milo O’Malley added to the Mervue tally, before Jeff Simpson pulled back a late consolation goal for Craughwell.

On a heavy surface in West Park, Salthill Devon scored four set piece goals as they eased past Renmore by 6-1. An early finish by Cole Connolly gave the visitors the lead, before a Killian Bolly finish levelled matters.

Just when it looked like the sides would go in level at the break, Shane O’Rourke flashed home a shot to put Devon 2-1 up at the break. The visitors continued to generally dominate on the resumption. Paul Scally applied a close range finish to a Darren Collins free kick, before Collins got on the score sheet himself, direct from a corner.

Collins was again the provider as O’Rourke had a free closer range header for his second, before the Donegal native completed his hat trick with a shot from inside the box to make it 6-1.

Pictured: Roman O’Toole of Oughterard in action against Finn Maguire and Hugh Flynn of Salthill Devon during the clubs’ Premier Division U-15 tie in Drom. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.