Unbeaten ‘Well go marching on in cup
NEWFOUNDWELL RIVERVALLEY RGRS 2 0
NEWFOUNDWELL’S unbeaten start to the season in all competitions continued at DIFE on Sunday as they knocked out Rivervalley Rangers to reach round three of the FAI Junior Cup.
It took the side managed by Danny Gartland and Paul Crowley a good 15 minutes to get settled into this game as their opponents came out the faster of the two teams.
Indeed, only for their young impressive keeper Ronan Brown they could have found themselves a goal behind after only 10 minutes as the usually solid Paddy O’Boyle saw his wayward back-pass fall to an attacker, but Brown was fast off his line to clear the danger.
That scare must have spurred on the ‘Well as they soon started to get a grip on the game and it was a grip they wouldn’t relinquish.
Their dominance told after 25 minutes from a throw-in when some nice play from Brian Kermode and Cormac Reid set up a good chance for Ian Devine and he placed his shot to the corner of the Rivervally net.
That pattern continued up to the half-time break, with ‘Well creating a number of good chances but not taking advantage of promising situations.
The second half saw Rivervally trying to push for the equaliser and the ‘Well catching them on the break, and but for some good goalkeeping from the away netminder the tie could have been over earlier.
However, the key second goal eventually arrived shortly after an inspired substitution, Shaun Bannon playing a good one-two with Craig O’Connor with his first touch and the latter eventually being brought down inside the box.
From the resulting penalty John Kermode struck a powerful shot to the keeper’s left corner.
Attention now turns to the Leinster Junior Cup next weekend as Newfoundwell have a home tie against another Dublin team, Kippure from the AUL.
It’s all good news off the field too after the club secured new sponsorship from Nolans Bar of the Chord Road, along with the existing sponsor Gary Kelly. NEWFOUNDWELL: R Brown, S Murphy, K Bull, P O’Boyle, R O’Connor, C Reid, A O’Connor (D McDonagh), B Kermode, C O’Connor (B Sullivan), I Devine (S Bannon), J Kermode.
•Ross Reid and Conor Parkinson scored later on as Newfoundwell 2nds rescued a 2-2 draw with their Trim Celtic counterparts in a top-of-the-table clash.