Byrne on the double as Southend cause cup shock
Jimmy Holohan Byrne who hit a brace for Southend United in their win over Tycor AFC in the FAI Junior Cup at Southend Park last Sunday.
Southend United advanced to round 2 of the FAI Junior Cup after they came from behind to beat Tycor and win the game by the odd goal in three. Jimmy Byrne was the hero for the home side as the striker bagged a brace to see his side over the line.
Tycor took an early lead but faded badly in the second half. In Southend's case, it was the complete opposite as they owned the second with man of the match Jimmy Byrne scoring twice to give the home team a deserved victory.
Tycor had the first goalscoring chance of the game after 10 minutes. Jake Burke whipped in a cross to the far post, the ball dropped for winger Jamie Walsh, but he headed wide.
The visitors took the lead on 15 minutes when Jamie Walsh split the Southend defence with a first-time pass, and Jack Power raced clear to slip the ball past the Southend keeper Jack Hennessey.
Minutes later, a corner kick by Jake Burke beat the Southend defence, but Mouhamed Touhami saw his header only find the side netting. Southend striker Jimmy Byrne cut inside on 22 minutes, but Tycor defender Adam Sutton got across to make a goalsaving tackle.
Just past the half-hour mark, Tycor had a chance to increase their lead. Jack Power set up Jamie Walsh, but his shot was saved by Jack Hennessey. The rebound came back to Walsh, but Hennessey recovered to make another fine save.
The second half saw Southend up the pace of the game, and from the opening whistle, they had the Tycor defence under severe pressure. On 47 minutes, Jimmy Byrne got away down the left, and he sent in a low cross that just evaded Azeez Alabi at the far post. Minutes later, a free kick by Tommy Mullally had Tycor keeper Stefan McCurley scrambling across his goal to save at the far post.
Southend equalised on 55 minutes. Azeez Alabi was fouled in the box by Jake Burke, and up stepped Jimmy Byrne to score from the spot. Three minutes later, Southend went in front. Azeez Alabi took the ball on his left foot and cut in along the end line, and his low cross found Jimmy Byrne at the far post, and he side-footed home from close range.
Tycor went close to equalising on 65 minutes when Davi Alves tried a spectacular overhead kick that flew inches over the crossbar. Southend always looked dangerous on the counterattack, and six minutes later, Adam Crowley fired in a free kick that flew wide of the near post.
It was Tycor who finished the game on the attack. In the 85th minute, Davi Alves picked up a loose ball in the box, but he shot over the top. Minutes later, a long throw by Adam Sutton found the head of John O’Toole, but his weak header was easily saved by Southend keeper Jack Hennessy.
Jack Hennessy, Eoin Morrissey, Adam Crowley, Sean Hearne, Ben Hennessy, Tommy Mullally (Charlie Barden 70), Jake Keane (Eddy Atu 46), Aaron Connolly, Jimmy Holohan Byrne, Luke English (Ziggy Galvin 65), Azeez Alabi (Jacob Drozdek 85)
Stefan McCurley, Glenn Hawe, Mouhamed Touhami (John O’Toole 55), Charlie Power (Cormac Ryan 89), Dylan Dixon (Conor Rochford 75), Jack Power, Darren Burke (Davi Alves 55), Jamie Walsh, Andrew Hearne (Harnze Ali 85), Jake Burke, Adam Sutton.
Richie Brazil.
