North End march on

North End United fought back from a goal behind at the break on Sunday to see off Killarney Celtic and book their place in the last eight of the FAI Junior Cup.

The Kerry outfit held a 1-0 halftime advantage thanks to Peter McCarthy’s strike, although the Sky Blues showed their attacking intent, with Paul ‘Spot’ Murphy twice going close and Kyle Dempsey also threatening to open the North End account.

However, they also had goalkeeper Lee Walker to thank for keeping the hosts within striking distance at the interval.

Walker, who during the week was named in the Connacht/ Leinster regions squad for the UEFA Regions Cup play-off game on Saturday, showed just why he has been turning heads with a stunning save, and it proved to be a crucial one as John Godkin’s men asserted their supremacy after the interval.

Shane Dempsey drew the visitors level with a deflected strike from 30 yards and, after good work from Jason Murphy, Kyle Dempsey buried the ball to the corner of the net with unerring accuracy.

Paul ‘Spot’ Murphy brilliantly chipped the goalkeeper with twelve minutes remaining to seal the deal, and Shane Dempsey put the icing on the cake late on, as he took a leaf out of Murphy’s book by expertly lofting the ball over the netminder.

The draw for the quarter-finals will be made in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (Wednesday).

Shamrock Rovers travelled to face Birr Town in the fourth round of the O’Neill’s LFA Junior Cup and came away with an impressive victory.

The Enniscorthy men ran out comfortable 2-0 winners, with Ricky Fox scoring from the penalty spot and Dan Carroll also hitting the back of the net.

Campile United ‘B’ hit Stoney Rovers ‘B’ for six on Sunday as they booked their place in the second round of the Gwyn Jones Cup in style.

Paddy Roche and Tommy Quinn both bagged doubles for the winners, with Danny Murphy and Larry Weafer also getting in on the act in a 6-2 triumph.