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OSCAR TRAYNOR CUP QUARTER FINAL
ROSCOMMON & DISTRICT LEAGUE 1 LIMERICK LEAGUE 1
3-2 on penalties, after extra time
OSCAR FOR KELLY AS ROSCOMMON ADVANCE
By John Dingle
For only the second time in the competitions history, the Roscommon & District League advanced to the semi-final of the Oscar Traynor Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout win over the fancied Limerick League in Lecarrow on Sunday afternoon. Nearly two hours of football had failed to separate the sides and it came down to penalties to decide who would advance to the last four. Goalkeeper Aidan Fallon, from the local St. Johns Athletic club, proved to be the hero saving a first half spot kick and then keeping the Roscommon team in contention throughout with a string of fine saves. In the lottery of a penalty shootout Fallon kept his nerve as he crucially stopped the visitor’s third penalty in a dramatic finale. The reward for the Roscommon League is a semi final date with the Kerry League in Tralee probably before the end of the month.
Manager Henry Loughnane from Ballinasloe and his assistant Peter Tiley from the St. Johns club had a full strength squad to pick from at league headquarters. Goalkeeping hero Fallon and left back Martin Lennon were local representatives from St. Johns. Lennon is from Ardkeenan in Drum just outside Athlone and played his underage football with St. Josephs. Central midfielder Dave Cullen plays with Ballinasloe alongside centre forward Liam Lynch who had a spell with Longford Town and was also the subject of interest from Athlone Town. Aidan Dooney completed the Ballinasloe connection on the starting eleven having joined the Galway side from Roscommon Town. On the substitutes bench were Michael Greaney and Shane Tracey, both from Ballinasloe, and Dave Grehan representing Skyvalley Rovers from Taughmaconnell. The visitors had a number of former League of Ireland players in their ranks including right back Wayne Colbert and midfielder Conor Kavanagh both of whom had spells with Athlone Town in 2011. The Limerick team are backboned by players from Pike Rovers with the current FAI Junior Cup holders having half a dozen representatives among a strong travelling squad.
Limerick with their cup pedigree headed into the game as favourites but were rocked when the home side took the lead after just 5 minutes play. Full back Lennon floated in a corner kick and when goalkeeper Gary Neville failed to safely gather the ball, Colm Killackey drilled his shot to the net from the edge of the six yard box. It was the perfect start for the hosts but Fallon had to be alert to the Limerick danger as he parried a shot which threatened to sneak in at the near post after 10 minutes. The home keeper was fortunate soon after when the ball landed into his arms after Mike O’Gorman’s shot from close range hit off the underside of the crossbar as Limericks dominance of the opening half gathered momentum. The visitors then forced two corner kicks in succession while Kavanagh, who had a brief spell under Mike Kerley with Athlone, fired wide midway through the half. The visitors were handed a chance to get back on level terms after half an hour when Martin Killilea fouled Shane Waters in the penalty area but Fallon guessed correctly to get down to his right and block Kavanaghs spot kick with the ball then cleared to safety. Limerick still enjoyed lots of possession as half time approached with Brian Buckley’s free kick hitting off the home defensive wall and behind for a corner kick and O’Gorman flashing a shot just wide. The inevitable equaliser arrived 5 minutes from the break when O’Gorman’s cross from the end line was pushed skywards by Fallon but Alan Barry was well placed at the far post to nod home. Barry could not miss from close range and Limerick might even had headed off with a half time lead but a strike from substitute Jonathon Grant following a long ball forward which caught out the home defence was somehow blocked down as the half ended all square.
Roscommon were much improved on the resumption of play and had an early chance when Dooney tested the keeper with a long range free kick which Neville was glad to push behind. A similar effort from the home midfielder shortly after the hour mark just cleared the bar while Lynch was then out of luck when his effort from the right just cleared the far post. The Ballinasloe striker’s effort proved to be one of the last chances for the home side as thereafter Limerick took control with Fallon keeping Roscommon in contention with a series of fine saves. First home change saw Carl Galvin replace Keegan after 68 minutes while a second switch saw Skyvalleys Dave Grehan join the action in place of central defender Tierney who had been booked earlier. In the ensuing reshuffle Lynch dropped back to centre half leaving Grehan to now partner Killackey up front. Jake Mulcahy shot over after a free kick had been blocked while Grant somehow failed to hit the target firing wide of an open goal after the keeper advanced as the visitors went in search of a winner. The final 5 minutes of normal time saw Limerick pound the home goal but were unable to get past an inspired Fallon as Roscommon held out to force extra time. Grant almost made up for his earlier miss but saw Fallon block his goal bound effort while former Athlone Town player Colbert was also denied as the Lecarrow Garda dived to push behind the full backs strike which would surely have proved a winner at that late stage.
Limerick edged the two periods of extra time but again was unable to find a way past Fallon who steered the game towards a penalty shoot out after 20 additional minutes had ended scoreless. An early visiting corner was cleared while Fallon was alert to the danger from a quickly taken free kick by Waters to push the ball behind. The home side ended the first period on a high when Lynch earned a corner kick and followed up with another corner on the resumption of play which was scrambled clear. Roscommon ended their attacking challenge with another corner kick but had Fallon to thank late on for surviving until penalties decided the outcome. Tired limbs were tested as Limerick launched a final attack and while Fallons block from Waters strike was good the follow up effort to deny Grant was even better as the visitors shook their heads in dismay following a frustrating afternoon in front of goal.
It was appropriate then that Fallon crowned a fine display by saving substitute Keith Harnetts spot kick in the penalty lottery after both sides had missed their opening efforts. Kavanagh and Lynch were successful with the next two but when Fallon denied Harnett the advantage swung Roscommons way as the pressure began to tell on Limerick. Killackey followed up his opening goal with a successful penalty conversion as the home side lead after three kicks each had been taken. Grant levelled matters but what proved to be the winner arrived when Dooney found the net with an expertly dispatched effort and there was no need for any further brave men to step forward when Pat Boyle hit the post with Limericks fifth penalty. Three two then for the home side on penalties with the goalkeeper smothered under jubilant Roscommon team mates and mentors as they acknowledged his man of the match display.
It was hard luck on Limerick who had enough chances to win on another day but full credit to the home side who showed great self belief when the odds were stacked against them and failed to panic at any stage even under severe pressure especially during the second half and in extra time.
ROSCOMMON: Aidan Fallon, David Fitzpatrick, Martin Lennon, John Tierney, Martin Killilea, Aidan Dooney, David Keegan, David Cullen, Liam Lynch, Colm Killackey, Ronan Curran.
Substitutes: Carl Galvin for Keegan 68 minutes; David Grehan for Tierney 75 minutes; Michael Greaney, Vando Silva and Shane Tracey – not used.
LIMERICK: Gary Neville, Wayne Colbert, Jake Mulcahy, Pat Mullins, Brian Buckley, Conor Kavanagh, Shane Waters, Mike O’Gorman, Shane Clarke, Alan Barry, Pat Boyle.
Substitutes: Jonathon Grant for Clarke injured 24 minutes; Keith Harnett for O’Gorman 100 minutes.
Referee: Paul Murphy (Athlone)
