Dunne’s sweet strike puts Oylegate through
A SWEET strike from substitute Barry Dunne in the first period of extra-time steered Oylegate United into the second round of the Billy Browne Cup after a hard-fought battle in Crossabeg Community Grounds on Sunday.
Oylegate were second best for much of the first-half and Thomas Browne deservedly fired the visitors in front in the 25th minute, but they failed to add to their tally when they were on top.
The hosts, who were runners-up in this competition last season, began to get a foothold in the game leading up to half-time and they continued their improvement after the break, with Ciarán Hillery blasting them level from the penalty spot ten minutes after the turnaround.
A closely-contested tie could have gone either way after that, but a moment of magic from Barry Dunne in the 99th minute settled it in Oylegate’s favour.
Caim United are rooted to the bottom of Division 3 but they didn’t begin the match like a side lacking confidence as they took the game to their hosts from the off.
Stephen Watchorn was the first to try his luck, but his shot from outside the area in the fourth minute was too close to goalkeeper Gary Lynch.
In the 14th minute Gavin Rafter headed a difficult chance wide and then Aidan Byrne gathered a long ball from Loughlin Rafter and turned well but his shot failed to trouble Lynch.
On 24 minutes Caim did make the breakthrough when the ball fell into the path of Thomas Browne after a punt forward from goalkeeper Bobby Larkin, and the attacker applied a cool finish.
Moments later there was more panic among the Oylegate rearguard when a Niall Beggan corner struck the butt of the post before being cleared to safety.
However, Oylegate weathered the storm and began to find gaps as the half wore on. Conor Heffer- nan fluffed a gilt-edged opportunity to draw his side level on the half-hour mark, scooping the ball over the bar after being played in by John McCormack.
Two minutes later the roles were reversed, with Heffernan heading the ball into the path of McCormack but his half-volley was straight at the goalkeeper.
Oylegate continued to turn the screw but two great saves from Bobby Larkin preserved Caim’s slender advantage at the interval.
On 42 minutes Conor Heffernan picked out Eoin O’Mahoney who unleashed a stinging shot, but Larkin was equal to it, diving to his left to get a firm hand on it and push the ball out for a corner.
Seconds later Larkin was again called into action, scrambling to his right to block a Stephen Casey header from a Heffernan corner.
Caim United began the second-half quite brightly, with James Howlin and Niall Beggan both seeing efforts blocked, but Oylegate were handed a lifeline in the 54th minute when Stephen Casey was bundled over in the area.
Referee Ger Cleary had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Ciarán Hillery rifled the ball past Larkin with the aid of the lefthand post.
Oylegate went close to grabbing a winner in the 77th minute but Gerry Heanue angled a ferocious drive narrowly off target, while at the other end Stephen Watchorn tried to beat Gary Lynch on his near post but the goalkeeper was up to the task.
The winning goal eventually did come with 98 minutes on the clock when substitute Barry Dunne produced an impeccable touch to bring a Stephen Casey floated cross under control, before arrowing the ball unerringly into the corner of the net. OYLEGATE UNITED: Gary Lynch, Stephen Casey, Lee Kehoe, Kevin Byrne, Ciarán Hillery, Anthony Doyle, Jamie Reck, Gerry Heanue, John McCormack, Eoin O’Mahoney, Conor Heffernan. Subs. - Barry Dunne for Heffernan, Fergal Doran for Kehoe. CAIM UNITED: Bobby Larkin, Pádraig Leacy, Eddie Power, Loughlin Rafter, John McCarthy, Stephen Watchorn, James Howlin, Gavin Rafter, Aidan Byrne, Niall Beggan, Thomas Browne. Subs. - Darren Blackburn for G. Rafter, Stephen Dunbar for Beggan. REFEREE: Ger Cleary.