Murphy holds his nerve to fire ’Well into last 16
NEWFOUNDWELL were pushed to the pin of their collar but still managed to maintain their season-long unbeaten record when defeating Cork hosts Knocknaheeny 8-7 on penalties last Saturday.
Facing the Rebel County’s reigning AUL Premier A Saturday league and cup champions on their own patch looked a tall order for the Drogheda men, who departed at 7.45am for the 2pm kick-off.
Even Mayfield’s all-weather pitch was barely playable following all the heavy rain in the days before, but the FAI Junior Cup sixth-round tie went ahead and despite the lack of goals it proved an entertaining affair.
Both teams had scoring chances in the 90 minutes and during extra time, but the respective keepers - Ronan Brown was in goal for Newfoundwell - performed heroics to ensure they kept a clean sheet.
Perhaps the best of the chances for the visitors fell to Ian Devine, but he was foiled on several occasions by the Knocknaheeny netminder, while on another occasion he shot just wide of the upright.
In the end two hours of football failed to produce a goal and the tie was decided on penalty kicks.
After each team had taken five spot kicks they were still level at 3-3, with two Newfoundwell players missing the target and Knocknaheeny missing one and having the other saved by Brown.
Both teams scored their first penalty in sudden death, but when Brown saved Knocknaheeny’s next kick Newfoundwell sub Kevin Bull had the opportunity to win it but couldn’t convert his penalty.
The Cork side’s next taker also missed, hitting the ball off the top of the crossbar, and this time the ‘Well took full advantage as defender Stephen Murphy fired home the winner to send his club into the last 16 of the competition - the first time a Drogheda team has ever made it that far.
Apart from Murphy, who was outstanding along with defensive colleagues Paddy O’Boyle, Daryl McDonagh and keeper Brown, the successful penalty takers were O’Boyle, John Kermode, Ross Reid, Cormac Reid, Adam O’Connor, Alan Murphy and Anto Burke.
It’s more knockout action for Newfoundwell next weekend as they travel to face Evergreen of Kilkenny in the Leinster Junior Cup.
NEWFOUNDWELL: Ronan Brown, Paddy O’Boyle, Stephen Murphy, Daryl McDonagh (Kevin Bull), Alan Murphy, Cormac Reid, Dean Carolan (Dylan Kearney), Ryan Connor (Ross Reid), Adan O’Connor, John Kermode, Ian Devine (Anto Burke).