Promoted Rangers keep their double hopes alive

GOALKEEPER Thomas Mulvey saved the first three penalties in the shoot-out that followed after the sides finished locked at one all at the end of extra-time of this Fitzsimons Cup tie at the Muirhevnamor astro turf pitch on Sunday afternoon.

This booked the home side a place in the quarter-finals of the knockout competition next Sunday when they will be keen to avenge a 5-3 away defeat to Rathkenny in the league earlier in the season at the same venue.

Rangers are guaranteed already promotion for a third successive season, and will play in the first division next season, and will go up as champions if Kells-Blackwater don’t beat Hazel Lane on Sunday next.

There was a fast opening to this tie and Rangers should have taken the lead. Shaun O’Connor broke free down the right only to shoot wide, while TJ Murtagh headed over the crossbar after rising highest to meet a Martin Murphy corner kick.

However, they had a let-off on 20 minutes when the Hazel Lane striker headed against their crossbar. Also Thomas Mulley did well to push wide a shot from the edge of his penalty box. Then Barry Carr dragged a great opportunity wide with only the goalkeeper to beat after fine link-up play involving TJ Murtagh and Gavin Gaffey.

There was no score at the interval, but Hazel Lane broke the deadlock with a cracking goal ten minutes into the second half, with Thomas Mulvey given no chance with a shot from 25 yards.

Rangers were reduced to ten men with Martin Murphy dismissed for a second yellow card offence a few minutes later.

Twice they went close to levelling. JT Murtagh was denied by the Hazel Lane goalkeeper when he looked like he was going to score and the usually reliable Carr broke free and his shot trickled wide of the far post.

However, Shaun O’Connor forced the tie into extra-time when he went on a great run down the left , beat two players and finished brilliantly from near the penalty spot with five minutes left.

Rangers had a couple of chances in extra-time to grab the winning goal, but Mulvey ensured their place in the last eight with his heroics in the shoot-out. RANGERS: Thomas Mulvey,Martin Murphy, Brian McCloskey, Padraig Browne, Stephen Begley, Shaun O’Connor, Michael Bergin (Gavin Lennon), Anto McLaughlin, Gavin Gaffey, Barry Carr, TJ Murtagh.