Village Utd v Grattan Utd 10.01.04

Villagex Utd v Grattanx Utd 10.01.04
Match details below
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MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP 

Village United (red) 1 Grattan United 1

It was honours even at Silverheights on Saturday afternoon when Village Utd and visitors Grattan Utd drew 1-1 in the fourth round (open draw) of the Lucozade Sport Munster Junior Cup.

This was the third meeting of the season between the sides and a draw was on the cards as each had earlier recorded a win. Grattan had the edge, a one-goal lead, at the break. Village enjoyed a good third quarter and deserved their equaliser. They had a man sent off after that but a draw was probably a fair result.

Grattan manager Eddie O’Riordan must have been wondering if anything would go right for his side in that first half, when they did have the advantage of the slope.

He had seen a Grattan goal disallowed and then lost two top players, striker John Kelleher and centre-half Paul Lynch, to injury. Young subs john Paul O'Sullivan and John Kearney were introduced and centre-forward Darren Geaney was brought back to defensive duties.

But it was their other central defender Harry Goulding who would have Grattan ahead at the break. In the 45^th minute, Goulding jumped behind midfielder Barry O’Rourke to get his head to a corner kick by sub John Kearney and direct it to the back of Jamie O’Donovan's net.

In the minutes just before the goal, Village had looked good. Richard Burns got in a terrific 35^th minute cross but Eric Burns was just inches away from turning it in with his head. And then low crosses, both from the left, by Rob O'Regan (in the 37^th minute) and Will O’Callaghan (in the 42^nd) went to waste for want of support.

Village stepped up a gear in the third quarter and Grattan keeper Adam Lynch made a terrific save in the 52^nd minute after a great run and cross by Terry Lotty had set up Eric Burns on the 18 yard line. And Lynch came to the rescue again when Eric tried again after the clearance had been played to him.

But Lynch’s next parry, a fine save from a free kick by Lotty, fell to the incoming Johnny Cooney and he bundled the ball in from close range for the equaliser.

Village continued to do the bulk of the attacking and O’Callaghan had a 67^th minute strike disallowed by referee Christy Byrne.

In the 77^th minute, Eric Burns set up Cooney but his shot as well off and then O’Callaghan cut in along the end-line and pulled the ball back but there were no takers.

Trouble for Village in the 83^rd minute when they had a man sent off. But they held on comfortably enough, even in extra time. There was a moment of anxiety though a couple of minutes into the prolongation time. Then Village keeper Jamie O’Donovan made a fine save from John Paul O'Sullivan. The rebound fell outside the box to Mark O'Sullivan. He tried to find the empty net with his lob but, much to the relief of Village skipper Conor Jones, who had made it back to the line, the ball sailed over the top.

Village United: Jamie O’Donovan, Clive Hurley, Rob O'Regan, Conor Jones (captain), David Quirke, Conan Burns, Eric Burns, Terry Lotty, Richard Burns, Johnny Cooney and Will O'Callaghan. Subs used: Alan O’Brien for C. Burns (53^rd minute) and Brian Sheehan for Cooney (87^th).

Grattan United: Adam Lynch, Derek O’Driscoll, Denis Cremin (captain), Paul Lynch, Harry Goulding, Barry O’Rourke, Graham Forde, Owen Kiely, Darren Geaney, John Kelleher and Mark O'Sullivan. Subs used: John Paul O'Sullivan for Kelleher (28^th minute, injured), John Kearney for A. Lynch (40^th, injured) and Eric Shinkwin for Kiely (60^th).

Referee: Christy Byrne; assistants: Barry Buckley and Sean Barry.