Tramore book semi spot after quick-fire goals
The Tramore AFC side that defeated Bohs in the Premier Cup at Ben Wadding Park on Tuesday night. Photo: Paul Elliott.
Three goals in the space of nine second-half minutes saw Tramore AFC breeze impressively into the final four of the Jimmy Searson Ardagh Premier Cup after the holders claimed a 3-0 win over Bohemians at Ben Wadding Park on Tuesday last.
After playing on the front foot from the outset, the seaside outfit created the first chance on three minutes when Michael Brennan played a super ball down the left-side that sent Lee Kavanagh into the clear, but he fired wide of the near post with a left-footed strike.
Charlie Binions went close to an effort on ten minutes when he got behind the Bohemians to dispossess a header back to keeper Adam Carroll, but the netminder blocked well before Conor Butler outjumped Michael Merrigan on 23 minutes only for his low effort to be also saved.
There was a big chance for Tramore to break the deadlock on 32 minutes when Charlie Binions got free out on the right-side before putting the ball on a plate for Lee Kavanagh, but with keeper Carroll out of position, his shot was superbly cleared off the line by defender Keelyn Fanning.
Michael Brennan went close soon afterwards after some more good work from Binions before the home side had their first chance on 40 minutes. David Kennedy sent over a left-wing cross that found the head of Ronan Kissane, but his header was comfortably saved by Gavin Buckley.
Bohemians keeper Adam Carroll produced a stunning save to deny the visitors the lead goal five minutes into the second-half when Charlie Binions whipped in a left-wing corner that found the head of Tom Carney, but his brilliant header was tipped over the bar.
The home side’s rearguard was finally breached by Tramore on 59 minutes as they struck for the lead goal. Lee Kavanagh made his own luck out on the left before putting in a teasing cross to the back post where Dara O’Brien was on hand to blast the ball to the roof of the net from close-range.
A second goal wasn’t long about arriving as the Seagulls doubled their advantage four minutes later. Michael Brennan turned provider with an excellent delivery from a right-wing corner that was touched home by Tom Carney inside a crowded six-yard area.
Tramore were awarded a penalty that yielded a third goal on 68 minutes when Charlie Binions was clipped as he cut in from the left-side that saw referee Ian O’Keeffe point to the spot, and Conor Butler dispatched the left-footed 12-yarder past a helpless Adam Carroll.
Both teams emptied the bench with the remaining time that was to be played with Carroll equal to a cracking effort from distance from Lee Kavanagh on 78 minutes before Bohemians’ Ronan Kissane also had an effort saved by keeper Gavin Buckley soon afterwards.
The home side were reduced to ten men in the final minute of the tie as Mark Phelan received a red card after clashing with Tramore’s Lee Kavanagh, but by the time that happened, the game was well and truly out of reach of the hosts as they couldn’t deal with their opponents’ dominance.
Adam Carroll, Keelyn Fanning, Michael Merrigan (Bradley Keohan 80), Colm Morris, Luke Brown (Leo Blake 53), Mark Phelan, Michael Hearne (Bernie Patrick McDonagh 61), Ronan Kissane, Ross Battye (Harvey Swift 73), David Kennedy (Josh O’Neill-Nolan 61), Dion Donnelly.
Gavin Buckley, Aran O’Brien, Michael Brennan (Joe Hawkes 71), Tom Carney, Jack Deegan, Dara O’Brien (Jack Ahern 77), Cian Flanagan (Kealan Graham 61), Conor Butler, Charlie Binions (Sean Browne 74), Lee Kavanagh, Ben Daly (Zach Shanahan 69).
Ian O’Keeffe assisted by Chris Maher and Eamonn Russell.
