Greystones bow out of Metropolitan Cup
Tolka super-sub nets a brace to add to McCourt treble
GREYSTONES United have been knocked out of the Metropolitan Cup after a Robbie McCourt hattrick, as well as a brace from super-sub Jamie Gray, earned Tolka Rovers a 5-3 win in a game that saw the Wicklow team lose Dillon Carthy to a red card, as well as a further three players to injury, including goalkeeper Robbie O’Connor
Despite losing O’Connor to a suspected neck injury picked up during the pre-match warm-up, Greystones found themselves 2-1 in front at half-time, thanks to a double from Sam Thompson.
Tolka Rovers turned the game around in a wild second-half, however, as Greystones dogged defence finally caved; Robbie McCourt’s hat-trick clinching goals and goals from Jamie Gray putting the game to bed.
In a back-and-forth contest in which both sides would enjoy periods of dominance, it was Greystones who made the more positive start in the early exchanges. Ryan Corcoran put wide from a Michael O’Brien cross on two minutes, shortly before Daniel Treanor was denied a goal by Tolka stopper Graham Bedford.
Tolka, meanwhile, were finding joy down their right-hand side, albeit struggling to come up with an adequate end product, with Jake Hyland seeing a deflected strike rest comfortably into the arms of O’Connor.
Greystones would pay off their bright start with the first goal on 12 minutes.
After winning the set piece himself, Treanor saw his strike tipped onto the crossbar, leaving Sam Thompson with the simple task of putting the ball into the back of the empty net.
The introduction of James Cailan for Mark O’Connor signalled a formational shift for Tolka, with Robbie McCourt being switched into a central position; a move that would pay dividends in a big way.
Picking the ball up on the right, McCourt ducked and weaved past three Greystones defenders, before bending the ball into the top left corner of the goal to make it 1-1.
That setback would be compounded shortly thereafter when, with 38 minutes on the clock, Robbie O’Connor went down to receive treatment, having taken a ball to the face from close range in the warm-up. Unable to continue, O’Connor was brought off for makeshift replacement Caylam Gamble.
United would overcome this loss to lead 2-1 at the break. Michael O’Brien pressurised the Tolka goalkeeper into miskicking a clearance, presenting Thompson with the chance to double his tally by lifting the ball over the keeper from the edge of the box.
While Greystones could take solace from overcoming a difficult end to the first-half to lead 2-1, the loss of O’Connor set in motion a change in momentum in Tolka’s favour, compounded by the introduction of Jamie Gray at half-time, as well as the clinical finishing of Robbie McCourt
Six minutes into the second-half, and Tolka were level. Stephen Doran released Alan Kearns down the right-hand side. Kearns then squared the ball into McCourt, who steadied himself to put the ball past Gamble to make it 2-2.
Tolka Rovers were assuming control of the contest, and McCourt was finding more joy through the middle of the park; shooting wide when presented with the chance to put his side in front on 59 minutes.
While Tolka were on the ascent, Greystones remained dangerous on the break, and took the lead for the third time with 25 minutes left to play. Once again, Michael O’Brien was released down the right wing. He then checked inside and fed the tireless Daniel Treanor, who dribbled past three men before burying the ball past the hapless Graham Bedford in the Tolka goal.
All of a sudden, Greystones were playing with a renewed confidence, and could have found themselves 4-2 in front just two minutes after retaking the lead. After Treanor was fouled down the left wing, substitute Joe Power sent an enticing in swinging cross into the area, only for Ryan Corcoran to rise highest and head the ball narrowly wide.
Tolka seemed stunned by falling behind, and were made to react quickly following Corcoran’s miss. They did just that and, buoyed by the exciting Jamie Gray, turned the game on its head in a rapid-fire final 15 minutes.
Gray kicked off the final stretch of proceedings in somewhat fortunate fashion, when his wayward cross from the right side evaded the unfortunate Caylam Gamble in the Greystones goal.
That moment of luck gave rise to an added intensity from Rovers, as well as some nervousness at the back for United’, who lost Michael O’Brien to a knee injury shortly before the equalizer.
The otherwise rock-solid Danny Perry mis-timed a header, only for Gamble to redeem himself by denying Gray from the resulting 1v1.
The visitors would not be denied. With nine minutes remaining, they found themselves in front for the very first time, once again through the class finishing of Robbie McCourt, who capped off a fine display by rolling the ball past Gamble for his hat-trick.
Greystones would attempt to turn the deficit around, with Evan Black — brought on for the injured Corcoran — controversially denied a penalty shortly before Dillon Carrey saw red for dissent, leaving Tolka and Jamie Gray to cap off a devastating second-half performance with a fifth goal in injury-time.