Jennings proves Boys Club hero with extra-time goal

Date Published: {J}

Mike Rafferty

FOR the second season in succession, OLBC have qualified for the last 64 of the FAI Junior Cup, but they left it late at the Jesuits on Sunday morning as a Jimmy Jennings extra time winner helped them to see off East United by the narrowest of margins.

Athenry also made their customary advance to the National Draw as they had matters generally all their own way in a 5-0 win over Oranmore, while the remaining scheduled tie between Corrib Celtic and Corrib Rangers was postponed.

OLBC 1

East United 0

(After extra time)

For the opening hour of this contest, matters were certainly going the way of the Premier Division visitors as they bossed the exchanges, but for all their supremacy, seldom did they look like pulling away from a side who stuck to them like glue.

Chances were certainly at a premium as defences dominated, but the raw passion of both sides made it compelling viewing. While the intensity and tackling was always hard and fair, the quality was not of the highest level as the long grass was certainly more agricultural than football pitch and, in fact, was a disgrace.

Though East United must certainly be wondering where it all went wrong, they can have no complaints as Boys Club produced as much in a good twenty minute spell in the second half as the visitors did for the opening sixty.

And for some reason, East United disappeared totally in extra time when the home team looked like the only one with a cutting edge to snatch a winner.

That magic moment for Boys Club arrived on 108 minutes. Shane Maughan collected a Willie Carroll thrown in on the left and sentJ ason McDonagh scampering away down the wing.

His delivery was cut out by the excellent Denis Lydon, but as the central defender was about to clear, the ball was nicked off his toe by Jimmy Jennings and, in a flash, the ball was in the net as his powerful close range strike made it 1-0 with goalkeeper Bashiru left helpless.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.