Round 2 line-up completed after 45 goals scored in nine first-round ties
Round 2 line-up completed after 45 goals scored in nine first-round ties
BY KIERAN McCARTHY
NEW Beamish Cup champions will be crowned this season.
Defending kingpins Crookstown were reduced to nine men as they were knocked out of the competition at the first hurdle last Sunday, by the team that they defeated in last season’s final, Dunmanway Town.
In a gripping cup encounter that needed extra-time to separate last season’s finalists, Premier Division league leaders Dunmanway gained revenge as they advanced to round two and a meeting with Aultagh Celtic.
Dunmanway went 1-0 ahead just after the half-hour mark when Vincent Healy headed in a Jamie Carroll corner but Crookstown’s reply was instant as Colm Crowley scored a free two minutes later. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes so extra-time was needed.
Dunmanway edged ahead again when Jerry McCarthy converted a penalty after he was brought down in the box, a challenge that saw Crookstown reduced to ten men. The champions’ afternoon got worse when another player saw a red card late in the game as they chased an equaliser to send this tie to penalties.
There was no such luck for Dunmanway Town B as their Beamish Cup dreams were ended with a 4-0 loss to Kilmichael Rovers; Danny Twomey scored a hat-trick for the winners and Shane Murphy also goaled to set-up a round-two tie with Bay Rovers, who edged out Clonakilty AFC B 3-2.
Ruaidhrí Houlihane and Ben Van Bree were on target for Clonakilty but goals from Gavin Johnston, Paul Drummey and Shane McSweeney see the Bantry club through to the next round.
In an all-Premier clash, Clonakilty AFC held their nerve to win the penalty shoot-out against Togher Celtic 4-1 after the game had finished level (2-2). Odhran Bancroft and Chris Collins were Clon’s goal scorers with Ian Crowley and Aidan Hurley hitting the back of the net for Togher whose attention now turns to avoiding relegation to Division 1. Clonakilty’s reward is a second round meeting with Riverside Athletic, last season’s Premier champions.
Elsewhere Spartak Mossgrove, having already wrapped up the Division 1 title and promotion to the Premier, will be confident of going on a good run and they made light work of Durrus, winning 5-1 away to the Division 2 outfit. Mike Bradfield bagged a brace and both Brian O’Mahony and James Kelleher scored, as well as an own goal, as Spartak breezed into the next round where Skibbereen await. Ciarán O’Donovan scored for Durrus.
Skibbereen left their disappointing Division 1 form behind them as they crushed Drinagh Rangers B 6-1 in their round one game last weekend. Both JP Reen and Brian Hodnett scored twice, Cal Keane added another and there was also an own goal as Skibb racked up the goals against Drinagh, whose sole reply was a Noel McCarthy strike.
Division 2 champions Clonakilty Town were too strong for Courtmacsherry as they won 4-1 thanks to goals from Sean O’Reilly (2), Jonathon Leahy and Daniel Lane, while Conor O’Regan replied for Courtmac. Ballydehob lie in wait for Clonakilty in the next round.
Two goals from Colin Tanner and another from Liam Kearney helped Leeside to a 3-2 victory against Lyre Rovers, who replied through Mike Keohane and John Clancy. Next up for Leeside is a second-round meeting with Mizen AFC.
Castletown Celtic scored five times in their 5-1 win against fellow Division 2 team St Martin’s, as Sean Crowley, Jack O’Callaghan, Fergal Kelleher, Ted Lordan and Billy O’Brien found the target. Chris O’Donoghue scored for St Martin’s.
Meanwhile, in the.com Premier Division, Drinagh Rangers closed the gap on leaders Dunmanway as they thumped Bunratty United 7-0 with Barry O’Driscoll (H) netting an incredible five times. Tomás Connolly and Gavin Beamish also scored for Drinagh who are five points behind the leaders but have a game in hand.
