Maree men hold nerve in shootout drama on home turf

MAREE Oranmore set up a last sixteen Connacht Junior Cup meeting with Westport United following a Fourth Round 6-5 victory on penalties over Iorras Aontaithe. The contest finished level at 3-3 in deplorable conditions on Sunday afternoon.

The home side enjoyed the advantage of the considerable elements in the opening half and made the perfect start when John Latchford headed in a Lonan O’Farrell corner in the opening minute.

The Mayo side responded well and Michael Togher got his head to an Eamonn McGauren set piece to level matters after 26 minutes, but the home side continued to be pushed forward by the strong wind and three minutes later Alan Barrett made it 2-1 when slotting past the advancing Shane Nallen.  

As to be expected, Maree Oranmore spent the majority of the second half on the back foot and as matters entered the final minute, it looked like they had survived until Gareth O’Malley drilled a low effort beyond Niall Eames to level matters at 2-2.

Extra time and Iorras Aontaithe enjoyed the elements once more and very quickly they were in the ascendancy as Sean Gaughan made it 3-2 with a close range finish, but the home side were not to be put down easily and five minutes from time Shane O’Neill was equally efficient in the box to tie up matters again.

Conditions were deplorable throughout and at one stage in extra time, referee PJ Norman had to take the players off the pitch as the hail made it almost impossible to see.

Matters were eventually decided in the penalty shootout, with Lonan O’Farrell, Dara Murphy, Gary O’Connell, Mike Fahy, Marcus Quinn and Brendan Tully all on the mark for the home side. Goalkeeper Eames made one crucial stop to deny Thomas Murphy, while Anton Mannering missed their only effort.

In return, Gareth O’Malley, Michael Togher, Shane Nallen, Anthony Mills and Sean Gaughan all replied for the visitors, but when Eamonn Carey lashed his effort off the crossbar in sudden death, the home side had prevailed by 6-5.

Matters were much more comfortable out in Abbeyknockmoy where St Bernard’s scored six in the opening half, when wind assisted, as they ran out 7-1 winners over Ballymoe. Daryl Finn set them off on the right footing with an early goal before Adrian Roche and Tom Forde, from a free kick, kept the pressure on the visitors.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.