FAI Cup Round-up

With four of the weekend’s eight FAI Cup first round ties played congratulations are due to Avondale United, Crumlin United, Cobh Wanderers and Cockhill Celtic who will all be joining the twenty League of Ireland teams in the hat for Round Two.

Cork side Avondale United beat St Mary’s AFC 1-0 on Friday night with Roy Long’s early penalty proving the difference between the teams. Avondale have already booked their place in the Munster Senior Cup final against Limerick FC having disposed of First Division sides Waterford United and Cobh Ramblers along the way. They now have an opportunity to take on another LoI club as they await the outcome of the second round draw.

Three matches took place on Saturday and another Cork side, Cobh Wanderers, also booked their place in Round Two when they defeated Tipperary side Clonmel Celtic 2-0 at Old Church Park. Wanderers suffered a heavy defeat to Cork City in the Munster Senior Cup quarter-finals earlier this year but they have put together a squad with a huge amount of league experience and goals from former Cobh Ramblers players Conor Meade and Davin O’Neill saw them through.

One Cork side that didn’t make it to the next round were College Corinthians who went down to top Dublin side Crumlin United at Castletreasure on Saturday afternoon. Greg Moorhouse got the vital goal for Crumlin with 20 minutes to go to continue their epic Cup season. Crumlin have already beaten Bray Wanderers in this years EA Sports Cup, although they then went out to the current FAI Cup holders St Patrick’s Athletic in the next round. And Crumlin will face the Saints again in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup. What are the odds on a third Cup encounter with Liam Buckley’s side when the draw is made of the second round of this competition?

Finally, The Ulster Senior League champions, Cockhill Celtic, made it into the second round draw when an Aidan O’Donnell goal eleven minutes from time was enough to dispose of Munster Senior League side Casement Celtic. Casement ended that game with just nine players after defender Danny Ahearn had been sent off on 63 minutes and Gordon Sexton then went off injured with both of their available substitutes having been used.

Cockhill have also taken on league opposition this season when they lost 2-0 to Tommy Dunne’s Galway United in the second round of the EA Cup.

The four remaining first round ties will take place on Sunday with three of the ties taking place in Dublin and the fourth kicking off at The Mardyke in Cork where UCC will meet Wexford’s North End United.

FAI Cup First Round

Sunday 26th April

Glenville v Firhouse Clover            11.00 am

St Mochtas v Arklow Town              11.00 am

Killester United v Dunboyne AFC  2.30 pm

UCC v North End United                 3.00 pm