Holders North End ‘booted’ out of cup
FAI Junior Cup
North End United’s reign as FAI Junior Cup champions came to a disappointing end on Sunday as they went down 2-1 to a decent Freebooters side at New Ross Celtic’s Butlersland grounds.
The Kilkenny outfit have a strong former Wexford Youths/ Wexford F.C. presence, with ex-Ferrycarrig Park duo Emmet Nugent and Andrew Wall getting their goals.
Graham Doyle, who captained the Slaneysiders to the League of Ireland First Division title in 2015, is joint manager of the team, while Peter Higgins, David Grincell and also Conor English line out for the Kilkenny men.
Another former Wexford Youths man, Shane Dempsey, got the goal for the Sky Blues, but it wasn’t to be their day as Freebooters marched on to the fourth round.
Nugent fired the Marble City side in front with just eleven minutes on the clock as his cross looped into the net.
North End’s best chance in the opening period came when Jason Murphy was put through, following a good move involving Paul Murphy, Gary Dempsey and Adam Beary, but his shot was off target.
The holders got back on level terms midway through the second-half when Alan Rhodes and Paul Murphy combined, before the latter found Beary on the right wing.
The recently-capped Irish Junior international delivered a searching cross to the back post, where Shane Dempsey was on hand to head in the equaliser.
Moments later North End had a penalty appeal waved away after Adam Beary went down in the area, but referee Seán Grant was unmoved.
North End were then hit with a late sucker-punch when Andrew Wall’s free-kick took a wicked deflection and found the top corner of the net. To make matters worse for North End, Jay Murphy had to be taken to hospital following a bad knee injury and everybody at the club wishes him well in his recovery.
Elsewhere, Gorey Rangers came out on top in their all-Wexford tie against Forth Celtic at Ramstown despite having to play with ten men from the 35th minute.
Lee Busher fired the visitors in front, and last season’s Wexford Volkswagen Cup winners looked to be really up against it when they had a man sent-off ten minutes before the break.
However, they showed considerable resolve and Paul Brennan grabbed the equaliser in the 81st minute to force extra-time.
Paul Murphy and Stephen Kinsella both scored in extra-time to earn an impressive victory for Rangers.
Meanwhile, Courtown Hibs bowed out of the competition when they lost 2-1 away to Crettyard United after extra-time, with Darren Brennan scoring for the Wexford representatives. O’Neill’s LFA Junior Shield
Wexford Bohs had too much firepower for fellow Wexford side Enniscorthy United in their O’Neill’s LFA Junior Shield third round match on Sunday.
Aaron Lambert helped himself to a hat-trick for Bohs, while Robbie O’Connor, Luke O’Neill and Stuart Hayden added to their tally and United replied through an own goal, Dylan Groarke and Darren Walsh (penalty).
Meanwhile, in the second round Gorey Celtic lost out to Skryne Tara, with Robbie Ballagh hitting the back of the net for Celtic.