Mervue Utd, Corrib Rangers and NUIG all advance in FAI Junior Cup

Mervue United, NUI Galway and Corrib Rangers have all advanced to the national open draw of the FAI Junior Cup, and their name will be in the hat for the Fifth Round last-64 draw which takes place this week.

All advanced with various degrees of difficulty, with Mervue the most convincing, despite the competition provided by Hibs. NUIG required an injury-time equaliser, before going on to defeat Athenry in a penalty shoot-out; while Rangers did not exactly have matters all their own way against Dynamo Blues.

Mervue United were 6-3 winners over Hibs, with Barry Moran scoring twice and Eoin Concannon, Keith McHugh, Stephen Larkin, and Stephen Cunningham also getting on the scoresheet. Hibs replied with two goals from Keith Ward, and a goal from Jason McDonagh.

NUI Galway advanced thanks to a penalty shoot-out win over Athenry in Dangan. The visitors opened the scoring through Anthony O’Conghaile, and looked to be heading for the next round only for the home side to equalise in injury time at the end of the game through Gary Mullen.

Neither side could find the winner in extra-time, leaving it to the lottery of penalties to decide the outcome, and goalkeeper Marty Mannion saved Paddy Quinn’s effort to see NUIG advance 5-4 on penalties.

Corrib Rangers were 2-0 winners over Dynamo Blues, thanks to goals in either half from Cormac Clarke and Victor Collins.