Ohlstrom the Knocknacarra hero in Connacht Junior Cup

Eric Ohlstrom was the Knocknacarra hero as his second goal of the day was enough to give his side a 4-3 extra-time win over MD Town and in the process set up a home tie against Castlebar Celtic in the last 16 of the Connacht Junior Cup.

In the Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division, NUI Galway eventually fashioned a comfortable away win over St Patricks and in the process they moved into second position behind runaway leaders Mervue United.

However, it was another weekend of limited action, as a huge amount of games once more fell by the wayside due to the inclement weather.

Knocknacarra     4

MD Town            3

(After extra-time)

A game that never really set the pulses racing came to life in extra time as the outcome firstly looked to be going the way of the visitors, before two goals in a three-minute spell turned matters in favour of the home side at Cappagh Park on Sunday afternoon.

If Knocknacarra offered the greater attacking threat in the opening half, they could certainly regret a number of missed opportunities, as it was MD Town who held on to enjoy an interval advantage.

That breakthrough arrived on just four minutes as a rapid counter attack released Conor McLoughlin, but after he was denied by the advancing goalkeeper Cian Costello, Callum Manhire was following up to side foot home from the edge of the box for a 1-0 advantage.

Knocknacarra should have taken the lead moments earlier as a great break by Aengus MacDonnacha wasn’t rewarded, for after linking with Eric Ohlstrom, he meekly fired a close range effort at the advancing James Kilgariff.

Albert Conroy later released Keith O’Shaughnessy in the box, but his angled effort went past the far post from close range. On 19 minutes, the prolific striker was denied by a brilliant one-handed save by Kilgariff, as John Culkeen eventually cleared the danger with a big boot.

MD Town –a combination of Miltown and Dunmore – offered a more limited attacking threat and Costello did well to claw a near post McLoughlin corner away from under the crossbar. Packie Manhire also made the goalkeeper work to make another smart save on 33 minutes.

The visitors could have been out of sight but for two glaring misses in the opening minutes of the second half. Firstly, Brendan McGrath headed a Callum Manhire cross past the far post, when he should at least have hit the target. Then when McGrath released McLoughlan through the middle, Costello advanced to thwart the effort on the edge of the box.

Very quickly, Knocknacarra responded with a smashing goal. Exciting left-full Dean Lydon started the move before setting up MacDonnacha and his lay-off was drilled low into the bottom corner by Ohlstrom to tie up matters at 1-1. Lydon was again the instigator as they made it 2-1 on 58 minutes, when O’Shaughnessy applied the finish after rounding Kilgariff at close quarters.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.