Rangers and Mervue leave it late in Connacht Junior Cup

Date Published: 08-Apr-2013

Overwhelming favourites going into the games, the big two of Corrib Rangers and West United were certainly made to suffer before late goals eventually gave both a safe passage to the semi-finals of the Connacht Junior Cup with wins over West United and Iorras Aontaithe.

Rangers trailed at the break, but scored four times in the closing 10 minutes to eventually see off the challenge of West United; while Mervue were within a minute of a penalty shootout, when Paul Sinnott atoned for some earlier misses with the match winner in extra-time over Iorras Aontaithe.

Corrib Rangers 4

West United 1

No doubt the final outcome rather flatters Corrib Rangers, but sometimes you reap what you sow as a diligent home side eventually did enough to dismiss a visiting side in a game between two longstanding rivals that didn’t disappoint.

West were buoyed by a very vocal support on the sideline were certainly up for the occasion. They were the better side in the opening half as every challenge was supported by a chorus of approval and in fairness the players responded.

They were in full flow when making the breakthrough on 31 minutes, with a penalty converted by Barry McEntee. The awarding of the spot-kick was certainly questionable as a Mark Murphy’s near-post corner was missed by Tony Ward and just behind him John O’Brien knew absolutely nothing of the contact as the ball struck off him.

While West enjoyed more than their fair share of possession as Eric Holland and John Egan impressed, they seldom really threatened Daragh Geraghty’s goal. At the other end, Rangers – who were missing the suspended Simon Walsh and Jason Smith – were only playing in snatches.

Leading scorer David Goldbey twice went close for the home side in the opening half, but was wide of the target on each occasion, and as the clock was winding down, it looked like it was going to be West’s day.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.