Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

There is nothing like being the underdog to stir the competitive instincts of a team and no doubt that was the case for Mervue United and Maree/Oranmore as they took on Salthill Devon and Athenry in the FAI Junior Cup and both emerged winners in two competitive outings.

Maybe the victory of Knocknacarra over Premier Division Colemanstown United was not of the same proportion, but it was significant in itself as they advanced with a fair degree of comfort.

The draw for the Fourth Round was held on Tuesday and Knocknacarra were the only one of the three remaining Galway teams to be rewarded with a home tie and they will meet the winners of Kilmore United or Courtown Hibs.

Mervue United will head south for a meeting in Cork with Avondale United; while Maree/Oranmore will travel to Dublin meet the winners of Knockmitten United or Balbriggan FC. All the ties are scheduled for the last weekend in November.

FAI JUNIOR CUP

Mervue United 1

Salthill Devon     1

(Aet-Mervue won 6-5 on pens)

Salthill Devon can have few complaints about this outcome for, after taking an early advantage with a Timmy Molloy penalty, they struggled to hit the target thereafter as the home back four of Luke O’Gorman, Daniel Brennan, Tommy Walsh and Paul Healy kept a highly-rated Devon attack in check for the majority of the time.

Ciaran O’Connor’s close-range finish for the equaliser just before the break gave the home side confidence, and they carried this through the second-half where they were the better side.

It took the lottery of penalties to sort the issue and it was Mervue who prevailed. Shooting first, Darren Darcy, Timmy Molloy, Shane O’Rourke and Jackson de Silva all found the net for Devon, but Mikey Fox had his effort saved by Peter Healy. Mervue responded through Darren Collins, Oisin Coyne, Lewis Waweru and Paul Healy, with Colin Kelly having his shot pushed away by Arek Mamala.

Pictured: The Maree/Oranmore side that advanced to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup with a 2-1 win away to Athenry at the weekend. Back row, from left: Rory Carberry, Colm Whelan, Liam McDonagh, Gallius Babonas, and Kealan Eyers. Front: Malachy Black (captain), Eoghan McDonagh, Luke Smith, Iffy Asogu, and Kacper Zatonski. Photo: Rob Stanik/eirefoto/galwaylocals.