Colmanstown are spot-on to advance in Junior Cup

With the inclement weather ruling out all the local league and cup action, just three fixtures survived over the weekend, with Colmanstown and Mervue United both advancing in the Connacht Junior Cup; while the Galway Youth side continued their successful FAI Inter League campaign when making it three wins from three in their group campaign with a success over Limerick at Deacy Park.

In the Connacht Junior Cup, Colmanstown ‘keeper Alan Finn was the hero as he saved two West United efforts in the penalty shoot-out after the sides finished 4-4. Mervue United did all their best work in the closing half hour as they knocked home six without reply to see off visitors Brazukas.

West United 4

Colmanstown 4

(aet-Colmanstown won

3-0 on pens)

In a game switched from a flooded South Park to West Park, Colmanstown goalkeeper Alan Finn proved to be the difference between the sides as the visitors advanced from this Connacht Junior Cup tie after a penalty shootout.

The custodian saved the efforts of Mark Murphy and Caue Hess, while the penalty of Emmett Shaw struck a post. In contrast, Richie Lally, Ronan Geraghty and Tom Flannery all slotted home their efforts to secure the Colmanstown passage.

It was a contest in which the visitors took the lead on four occasions, as Flannery notched a hat-trick, with Ray Moran getting the fourth. To the credit of West, they responded on each occasion to level matters, as Aaron Connolly headed in a Tony Ward corner for the opener, before Hess notched a brace, scoring each side of a smashing Mark Murphy free-kick.

Mervue United 7

Brazukas 1

The final outcome might flatter Mervue United as it took them an hour to warm up against the lower division Roscommon League side at Fahy’s Field on Sunday afternoon. The contest was scoreless at the break, after the visitors enjoyed the advantage of the elements in the opening half, but Mervue quickly turned the game their way on the resumption as Keith McHugh headed home an Alan O’Donovan corner nine minutes into the second-half.

The visitors reacted well as they levelled matters within minutes, before Mervue responded to the set-back by emptying the bench and from there to the finish the home side took over, as they rattled home six goals in the closing stages.

Brian Meaney, Barry Moran and Alan O’Donovan all scored twice in the closing half hour as the home side set up a home fourth round tie against Swinford.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.