Super ‘Well don’t go down without a fight

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CUP games are all about knowing how to win when the going gets tough - and veteran cup campaigners Evergreen FC from Kilkenny showed that trait to perfection at St Joseph’s on Sunday afternoon.

This FAI Junior Cup sixth-round tie had everything - and Newfoundwell can rightly look back on it as a day when they did themselves proud.

In the end the Drogheda side paid the price for switching off for 18 first-half minutes, during which they conceded three goals and left themselves with a mountain to climb.

But they almost scaled that peak in a dominant second half, and had they been a bit more clinical in the final third of the park would have secured a stunning victory.

Evergreen had former Aston Villa and Shamrock Rovers man Mikey Drennan in their ranks and he had a big part to play in all his side’s goals, supplying the final ball for Conor English to score twice, while he turned in a flash himself to hook in the third on 28 minutes.

That all came after Newfoundwell had taken a surprise lead, Brian Kermode finishing smartly after just five minutes.

The long ball tactic was a favoured option for the visitors for most of this tie, with the ‘Well proving to be more of a footballing team.

Dean Carolan, Tom Reilly, John Kermode and Brian Kermode worked their way into the tie as the first half came to a close, but it might have been all over just on half-time when Sean Barcoe ghosted in, only for Bryan Smith to save superbly.

The second half saw Newfoundwell at their best - and what a performance from centre-half Emmet Carolan.

A lot of the time the young man had Drennan to contend with, but he did his job superbly. He was disciplined and composed, and hard as nails when needed. He’s a rich talent for the future and there’s no doubt about that. Kevin Bull be- side him lacked nothing either and he was well supported by Stephen Murphy and the impressive Daryl McDonagh at left-back.

Newfoundwell’s final ball was their undoing in the early stages of the second half, but still they had momentum and Murphy fired off the bar before John Kermode picked his spot perfectly to make it 3-2 after a pass from the lively Carl Brannigan on 68 minutes.

Straight after that, three of ‘Well’s players marched swiftly off the field because of commitments elsewhere with their Army employers and the experience of Kevin Bull was especially felt in the latter stages despite the introduction of fresh legs off the subs bench.

Nevertheless, Kermode had another big chance on 74 minutes, but this time he was denied by the legs of Pat Holden. Brian Kermode had a header taken off the line, Reilly blasted over and on 84 minutes the hard-working Ciaran Carroll chipped the keeper but also the crossbar.

It was frantic late on, but that elusive equaliser to force extra time just would not come for the Drogheda men.