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You are > Home > Carrick’s FAI cup dream ends in bitter defeat
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Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Carrick’s FAI cup dream ends in bitter defeat
BY ADRIAN FLANAGAN
A lone goal from St. Michael’s central defender Paul Breen ended Carrick United’s dream of getting their hands back on the Umbro FAI Junior cup after a fiercely contested seventh round tie at Tom Drohan Park, Coolnamuck on Sunday afternoon last.
The home side were left cursing their luck at the final whistle as a missed penalty from Thomas Fitzgerald on 34 minutes proved to be so crucial at the end of the game with both sides also finishing the game with ten players.
It was always going to be a hard fought cup tie between two close neighbours and it came as no real surprise that the game was littered with numerous free kicks, yellow and red cards, which certainly kept Cork referee Finbarr Murphy on his toes throughout.
The large vocal crowd from both clubs definitely added that extra bit of spice to the match as there was a place in the quarterfinal of the National cup at stake and although chances were few and far between, the visitors just about deserved their victory.
From the opening whistle, it was clear that this was going to be a cracking contest and when Anthony Power got free down the right touchline on three minutes, his cross was too close to St. Michael’s goalkeeper Derek Breen and he collected the ball with ease at the near post.
Carrick keeper Adrian Walsh was called into action less than two minutes later when he made a decent stop to deny centre forward Timmy Kiely and on 14 minutes, Michael Coady was inches over with a 20-yard free kick following a late tackle on Keith Walsh.
As tackles began to fly in, the visitors had both Thomas Fahy and Paul Tobin yellow carded before David Ryan had a header taken off the line on 31 minutes by the head of a defender Anthony O’Donnell following a Timmy Kiely delivery.
Carrick were then awarded a penalty less than three minutes later when Michael Coady went to ground under a challenge from Trevor Cosgrave that left referee Murphy with no option but to point to the spot, however Thomas Fitzgerald blazed the spot kick high over the crossbar.
DOWN TO TEN MEN
St. Michael’s were reduced to ten players two minutes before the break as Tobin picked up his second yellow card and within five minutes of the restart, the home side were down to ten as Michael Coady also picked up his second booking from the Cork official. With neither side able to get control of the ball and create a decent chance, it looked as if extra time was looming but all that was to change on 83 minutes as a needless foul on John Connery by Alan Ryan saw the latter cross for James Walsh and when he flicked the ball to the back post, Paul Breen was on hand to fire home from close range.
As Carrick failed to find a leveller, it was the end of their cup dream for this season but they gave it their best shot against a visiting side that defended brilliantly and made life difficult for the home side to get a grip on proceedings.
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