Date Published: 20-Apr-2011

Athenry 2

Oranmore 1

WATCHING the action in Moanbaun on Sunday afternoon was like taking in a four act play as the respective sides enjoyed spells of total domination in their quest for a place in the Connacht Junior Cup Final.

The first and final quarters were all about Oranmore as they dominated proceedings firstly in their quest for a breakthrough and good start, while the closing stages were all about recovery as they trailed in the closing minutes.

In between, Athenry recovered after being outplayed on early and were the better side for the second and third sectors each side of the break. In that spell, they overcame an early deficit and scored twice to put themselves in the driving seat.

However for all the action and chances created throughout, the game will be remembered for Kieran Kilkelly’s top class penalty save just four minutes from time. The Athenry custodian dived to his right to push away Lonan O’Farrell’s spot kick and in that moment the game was won and lost.

Athenry have being around the block a long time and with such an experienced side, they generally just do about enough to win close games and it is this ability to carry themselves just about over the line that has seen them win so many honours over the past number of years.

The visitors certainly made their presence felt in the early exchanges and were awarded on 12 minutes when Dave Devlin headed home after Ollie Keogh and John Latchford provided the assists following a corner.

Athenry took some time to restore parity and two goals in the closing minutes of the half was to see them rewarded with a 2-1 interval advantage.

Another set piece goal created the equaliser as Emmett Byrne headed home at the far post following an Alan O’Donovan delivery and they made it 2-1 when O’Donovan was again the provider and Seamie Crowe applied the finish past Conor Leydon.

Oranmore threatened in the opening minute of the resumption when Willie Embuele got his head to a Keogh corner at close range, but his effort was too close to Kilkelly and his instinctive stop saved the equaliser.

The next twenty minutes or so were all about Athenry as O’Donovan, Mark Moran and Stephen Rabbitte threatened, while a Hughie O’Neill goal line clearance denied Byrne a second with another far post header.

Oranmore regained their sense of urgency after the hour mark and Shane Greally fired a free kick into the defensive wall, while O’Farrell set piece tested the fingers of Kilkelly. Ian Snee and O’Farrell were off target with efforts from outside the box.

A respite at the other end saw O’Donovan test Leydon with a free kick from outside the area, but it was a rare piece of action at the visitors end.

The awarding of a penalty on 86 minutes for a very gentle contact by Paddy Quinn on Ollie Keogh was questionable and following the protests, Kilkelly kept his composure by keeping out O’Farrell’swell struck effort.

The victory brought Athenry into their fourth Connacht Junior Cup final in five seasons and the defending champions will face either Ballinasloe Town or Hibernians, who meet in the Curragh Grounds on Sunday in the other semi final.

Athenry: Kilkelly, Rabbitte, Quinn, Kinneen, Byrne, O’Donovan, Delaney, Crowe, Forde, Moran, Murray (Mannion 72mins).

Oranmore: Leydon, Kelly O’Neill, Latchford, Embuele, Barrett, Greally (Snee 67mins), Rockall, O’Farrell, Keogh, Devlin.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.