Villa book semi spot with late goals
Conor Kilgannon on the attack for Villa against Glin Rovers at workLAB Connors Park in the Keane Jewellers Munster Champions trophy. Photos: Paul Elliott.
Villa struck two late goals to ensure their passage into the semi-finals of the Keane Jewellers Munster Champions Trophy after a hard fought 4-1 win over Limerick Desmond side Glin Rovers in their last eight tie at workLAB Connors Park on Saturday afternoon last.
With the Waterford Premier League champions widely expected to see past the Shannonside outfit with ease, Conor Coad’s side were a bit lethargic throughout the course of the contest and they were without the attacking threat of their main strike force in Dean Walsh and Alex Phelan.
They always held the upper hand in the tie against a Glin Rovers side, but did have their own way throughout the second-half especially after Jack Sheahan pulled a goal back after the hosts went two goals to good by the hour mark.
Shane O’Brien was just off target with a chance that fell his way on five minutes after getting on the end of a James Kennedy corner-kick before the breakthrough arrived four minutes later. John Tamen got space down the left before crossing to the back post where Conor Kilgannon blasted home from close-range.
Jeff Di Silva forced the visiting Michael Stack into a smart save on 35 minutes when he cracked in an angled effort before Conor Whittle set up Matas Grinius a minute later, but he fired over the crossbar from an advanced position.
The second-half was less than a minute old when Aaron O’Connor had a big chance to double the lead when he got space out on the right-side of the penalty area, but his well-struck right-footed shot was just wide of the far post.
Craig Dunphy had to be alert to the danger to deny Glin Rovers a chance to level on 50 minutes when he saved at the feet of Zach Behan before James Kennedy was just off target with a chance at the other end sixty seconds later.
It was the top of the crossbar that denied the visiting outfit the opportunity to level the tie three minutes later when Jack Sheahan sent over a left-wing corner-kick that found the head of Brian Donovan, but his effort struck the woodwork before going over.
Villa doubled their lead with 58 minutes on the clock when Aaron O’Connor found space out on the right-side of the area before crossing to the near post where Shane O’Brien was on hand to power a close-range header to the corner of the net.
Glin Rovers got themselves back into the contest seven minutes later when Daniel Stack played the ball forward from midfield that sent Sheahan into the clear, and he planted a low right-footed shot to the far corner past a helpless Craig Dunphy.
Evan Ryan thought that he had regain the lead for his side on 79 minutes when he headed the ball goalwards after Conor Whittle’s through ball, but the ball was hacked off the line, before a third goal did arrive four minutes later.
Conor Whittle sprayed the ball down the right-side for Jeff Di Silva before continuing his run to meet the return pass in the centre of the penalty area, and the midfielder drilled a low right-footed shot to the left-hand corner.
Villa ensured their passage into the final four when adding a fourth goal in the final minute when another sweeping move saw Evan Ryan fed the ball to Shane Keenan out on the right, and he put the ball across goal for Kieran Sadey to blast home from close-range.
Craig Dunphy, James Kennedy, John Tamen (Kieran Sadey 63), Dylan Stickel, Luke Walsh (Shane Keenan 63), Conor Kilgannon (Evan Ryan 63), Conor Whittle, Aaron O’Connor, Jeff Di Silva, Matas Grinius, Shane O’Brien.
Michael Stack, James Wallace, Conor Shine, Tommy Culhane, Garry Culhane, Brian Donovan, Zach Behan (James Broderick 88), Daniel Stack, Paul Sheahan, Jack Sheahan, John Wallace (Fionn Mulvihill 78).
Eamonn Russell assisted by Chris Maher and Noel Purcell.
