Ballyvolane B v Mayfield 17.01.04

Ballyvolanex B v Mayfieldx 17.01.04
Match details below
Please keep sharing and retweeting these pics. And, if you can, let clubs that are not on Facebook or Twitter and those that have folded know about them. Please share these photos on the internet as best you can as a lot of work has gone into them. When sharing individual photos on social media, please credit @CorkBilly on Facebook . Be sure too to download and keep copies for your own club.

Mayfield

AOH REPLAY

Ballyvolane B 2 Mayfield United 1

Goals in the 88^th and 89^th minutes gave second division Ballyvolane a dramatic 2-1 win over first division Mayfield United in Saturday’s entertaining Murphy’s Stout AOH Cup replay at Ballyvolane Park.

Mayfield had snatched a late equaliser in the drawn game and Ballyvolane player-manager Derek Mellerick described that as “a sickener”. Derek though enjoyed the cure on Saturday, particularly since it was he who administered the first dose of punishment to the visitors.

Mayfield, who lost home advantage when the previous week’s replay was called off because of ground conditions, led since the 21^st minute. But Mellerick stretched out a foot to volley in the equaliser and then Steve O'Keeffe came up with the winner.

Dave Kenny had a lively first half for the losers and was involved in their 21^st minute opener. That followed a throw-in on the left. Kenny worked his way into the box and his low cross to the far post was knocked in by Tim Twomey.

Player-manager Mellerick knew he had to change things in that area and came on himself for the second half where he played a key role in getting his side back into it.

Aside from an early flurry, the second half belonged to Ballyvolane and they forced corner after corner and kept Mayfield under pressure.

Mellerick's 88th equaliser came after a lobbed pass by Adrian McDonnell left the Mayfield defence screaming for offside as the experienced Ballyvolane man flicked the dropping ball to the net.

And it got worse for the first division visitors with just over  a minute to go. Dave Keohane got up to get a cross in from the left and found O’Keeffe. Keeper Ramsell got a hand to the shot and there was an agonising wait as the spinning ball just about made the line and eventually crossed it.

Then, the celebrations began. First division Ballincollig are the next target for the Ballyvolane men. Second string they may be but certainly not second rate.

Ballyvolane: Paul O'Sullivan, Conor Madden, Dave Keohane, J.J. Chambers, Ger O'Riordan, Tony O’Donnell, Peter Nugent, Adrian McDonnell, John Magner, Steven O’Keeffe and Kevin O’Shea. Sub used: Derek Mellerick for Magner (at half-time).

Mayfield United: Brian Ramsell, John Warren, Ger Forde, Paul Keegan, Michael Brosnan, Niall O'Sullivan, Tim Twomey, Sean Madden, Alan Kelly, Simon O'Leary and Dave Kenny. Sub used: Trevor Daly for Kelly (81^st minute).

Referee: Michael O’Farrell.

Ballyvolane player-manager Derek Mellerick reflected on the game: “A game of two halves is an old cliché but it sums it up today. I thought Mayfield were sharper all over the park early on and we really created very little. I was glad to get lads in at half time only one down. I asked them to prove we were better than that in the second half and they responded superbly.”

“Suddenly we were competing and showing desire but when we dominated for twenty minutes without reward I thought it was slipping away. They are a good side and we were lucky once or twice when they broke, but I felt we fully deserved the equaliser. A second may have been a bit harsh on them but that’s the beauty of cup football - the underdog can do it on the day.”

Ballyvolane