Dominant North End shoot down Sheriff
NORTH END UNITED SHERIFF Y.C.
NORTH END United fought back from the concession of an early goal to comfortably put Sheriff Y.C’s second string to the sword in their L.F.A. Senior Cup second round clash on Sunday.
Lee Doody fired the Dubliners, who ply their trade in the A.U.L. Premier ‘B’ Division, in front from their first foray into the North End half on ten minutes.
However, once Jason Murphy levelled for the Sky Blues just before the half hour mark the result was never in doubt, with a Gary Byrne double giving them a 3-1 advantage by the interval and substitute Paul Murphy (Kilmore) adding to their tally in the second-half.
North End made the early running in a physical encounter, with Jason Murphy curling an early 30-yard free-kick off target and his brother Paul seeing an effort from just outside the area deflected narrowly wide.
The Wexford town outfit threatened again in the ninth minute, when Robin Dempsey got a touch on a long punt forward from goalkeeper Lee Walker, but Robert Fitzsimons was quickly off his line to make the block.
Two minutes later and the visitors were in front. Dylan O’Leary did well to plunder possession on the right wing before sending in a teasing delivery across the face of goal, and the inrushing Lee Doody had the simple task of steering the ball to the net.
North End were inches away from grabbing the equaliser on 17 minutes when Jason Murphy’s free-kick came back off the wall and Robin Dempsey fizzed a first-time effort narrowly wide of the left upright.
John Godkin’s charges went even closer moments later when Gary Byrne’s half-volley rattled the underside of the crossbar, and they continued to press relentlessly, with Dale Flynn scuffing a shot wide after a sweet pass from Paul ‘Spot’ Murphy.
The former Ipswich man was pulling the strings and he played his part when the well-deserved equaliser came on 29 minutes, spraying an excellent ball out to Dale Flynn wide on the left.
Flynn picked out Jason Murphy with a precision cross and he gobbled up the chance with aplomb, burying a shot to the left-hand corner of the net.
Three minutes later and North End were celebrating again. Danny Fitzpatrick and Flynn
Robin Dempsey of North End United battles for possession during their L.F.A. Senior Cup match against Sheriff Y.C.
Photographs: Seán Dempsey. combined well on the left, and when the ball ricocheted into the path of Gary Byrne he applied the close-range finish at the second attempt.
North End then struck for a third goal in the space of eight minutes, with Byrne again finishing the job after some beautiful, free-flowing football from the Wexford champions.
Paul Murphy delivered an eye-catching pass to his brother Jason, who in turn found the feet of Byrne with a perfectly-weighted touch and he did the rest, angling an accurate strike out of the reach of goalkeeper Fitzsimons.
North End continued to press, with Jason Murphy forcing another save out of the netminder, and the visitors’ frustrations began to mount, although they did come close to finding a way back into the game in first-half injury time when a Dylan O’Leary delivery was headed on by Lee Doody and Carlos Donovan was a whisker away from making a telling connection at the back post.
North End simply had to go through the motions in the second-half and Decky Downes headed a Gary Byrne corner wide on 57 minutes, although five minutes later they did have their fourth when substitute Paul Murphy turned well and applied a clinical finish past Fitzsimons. Murphy almost added a second moments later when he met a a right wing cross from his namesake with a firm header, which was deflected over the crossbar.
Gary Delaney was next to try his luck when he connected with a Gary Byrne corner at the near post, but the centre-half’s controlled effort was narrowly wide.
Substitute Paul Murphy had another sight of goal with 20 minutes remaining, but his shot was always rising over the bar, and the Kilmore man was then denied by a brave block from a sprawling Sheriff defender after he had controlled a cross from the hard-working Robin Dempsey.
Wexford Albion visited leaders Bridge Rovers on Sunday and ran out convincing 4-0 winners, with Jamie Thomas (two), Kyle Mann and Jay Daly getting on the scoresheet.
Oylegate United got back to winning ways in Fethard, with a Jeff Scally goal the difference between the sides, while strikes from Reece Broaders and Jason Ellard saw Rosslare Rangers edge out Shelburne 2-1.
Rosslare Strand and Raheen shared the spoils after a 3-3 draw, with Conor Clancy, Danny O’Reilly and Gary Collins scoring for the former and Dylan Whitty, James Furlong and Paddy Whitty replying.
Corach Ramblers missed the chance to go top of Division 4 when they were beaten 3-2 in Camolin on Sunday.
Daryl Murphy bagged a double for the winners, with Ashley Tully getting their other goal and Mark Hayes and Kevin Sinnott replying.
Mark Doyle and Ian Redmond got the goals for All Blacks as they drew 2-2 in Courtown, with James Fleming and Lorcan Rossiter scoring for the hosts.
Tom Harpur (two), Callum O’Reilly and Kevin Sinnott got the goals for The Ballagh and they overcame Castledockrell
Glynn Barntown laid down a real marker for the rest of the season with a commanding display in their Division 4A top of the table clash against Cloughbawn, running out impressive 5-0 winners.
Robert Dempsey opened the scoring for the hosts, powerfully heading home a good ball from full-back Shaun Hore, and Jack Fenlon made it two with a beautiful volley from just inside the box.
In the second-half Rioghan Crosbie made it 3-0 from the penalty spot and Shane Wilde added to the tally when he ran at the Cloughbawn defence and coolly slotted under the goalkeeper.
Crosbie got the fifth with another penalty, this time sending his spot-kick to the opposite corner.
Campile United had their shooting boots on as they ran out convincing 7-1 winners over Ballymurn, with Eoin Mythen and Paddy Roche both bagging doubles and Jamie Myler, Emmet Dunning and Ben Cummins adding a goal apiece.
Boolavogue won by the same scoreline away to Wexford Celtic, with Jamie Heffernan netting a brace, one from a penalty, David Ryan and Jono Donoghue both scoring direct from corner-kicks and James Byrne, Ian Devlin and Shane Grannell also getting in on the act.
Taghmon United earned a 3-0 win away to St. Joseph’s, with Stephen O’Gorman (two) and Ger Power getting their goals.
Division 5 leaders Enniscorthy Town had to be content with a point on Sunday when they were held to a scoreless stalemate by bottom side New Ross Town.
Seán Farrell, Mark Flood and Mark Corish got the goals for Rosslare Port as they saw off St. Leonards 3-1, with Matty Flynn replying.
Darragh Kavanagh, Paul Carton, Patrick Carton and Conor Mulholland hit the back of the net for Camolin as they beat Bree United 4-1, while Alan Bradley got on the scoresheet for Adamstown in their 2-1 loss away to Cushinstown.
Elsewhere, Kiltealy were 3-1 ahead away to Ferns when their match was abandoned on 86 minutes.