Samson heroics in vain as Ardee bow out
THERE was drama and controversy in equal measure as Ardee Celtic ultimately bowed out of the FAI Junior Cup following extra time in Clonmel on Sunday.
The Tipperary men were awarded an early penalty following an infringement by Robbie Reynolds, but Robert Samson came to Ardee’s rescue when he saved the resulting spot kick.
Ardee didn’t create anything in front of goal in the first half despite Ross Gaynor whipping two dangerous frees into the opposition box.
After the break Samson was quickly into action again, making a fine save in the early stages, while his opposite number Eoin Power remained virtually untested.
Ardee survived two further opportunities for Clonmel as one header went wide and the other was saved by Samson.
The away side finally came to life with just over 20 minutes left when Power was forced into a finger-tip save from Darryn Gaynor and Paul Matondo headed narrowly
CLONMEL TOWN ARDEE CELTIC 1 0
wide from the resulting corner.
At the other end David McGrath missed what should have been a tap-in breakthrough goal.
Clonmel continued to create the better openings and the Ardee goal survived another big scare when an Adrian McGrath shot was saved by Samson and after some pinball in the six-yard box the ball crept narrowly wide.
Somehow Ardee survived to take the tie to extra time and were hoping for a repeat of the previous week’s extra-time success against Collinstown in the same competition.
However, in the first period the Tipp men got the breakthrough as Keith Guiry broke free on the left and finished under Samson. Ardee were annoyed as they felt Ross Gaynor had been taken down moments earlier, with no free kick awarded.
The Deesiders pushed in the second half of extra time and a Ross Gaynor cross was taken off the foot of a teammate just as he shaped to shoot, before Darryn Gaynor just failed to get a decisive touch in the six-yard area.
In the final moments Niall Sharkey headed into the arms of Power, Gareth Kane sliced wide, Clonmel headed clear off the line and Matondo shot over from the resulting corner, but there was to be no equalising goal which would have forced a penalty shootout.