FAI Cup First Round Report: Bandon 1 - 1 Ringmahon Rangers

Bandon and Ringmahon Rangers will have to battle all over again, after they drew in this FAI Senior Cup First Round tie at Bandon’s Town Park ground on Thursday evening.

Bandon took the lead through a clinical finish by Keith Holden, before Ringmahon levelled through an Alan Higgins close range finish.

With the prize of progressing to the next round in the shape of a potential lucrative tie against a League of Ireland outfit, there was plenty of motivation for both of these Munster Senior League sides.

Ringmahon operate at a division below Bandon, but they knocked the West Cork side out of the FAI Intermediate Cup earlier this season.

Both sides went for it at the start, with Dion Hennessy missing a chance for the visitors, while Bandon striker Keith Holden had a great opportunity early on, but blasted wide with only the keeper to beat

Ringmahon have proven they can put it up to the best in amateur football this season and in the 20th minute, they could have gone in front, when Ian Long shot over after a good ball in by Hennessy.

The end to end nature of the contest continued, with Bandon’s Brendan Cullen unable to direct Holden’s cross on target.

Roy Kenny rattled the crossbar for Ringmahon in the 30th minute, as the visitors were by this stage just about edging it on the possession side of things, knocking the ball around well and with purpose.

Bandon though had the games better clear cut chances in the opening half, so it was little surprise when they took the lead, when Holden finished clinically to the right corner.

Ringmahon drew level early into the second half, when Higgins was on hand to knock in a free from the right by Jason Forde.

Both sides were determined and did their utmost to find a winner. Bandon went close when Cullen’s header from a Holland cross was saved by Ringmahon keeper James Kirby.

Ringmahon were looking the more likely as the second half wore on, with Kenny and Forde going close for the visitors. Their cause wasn't helped though when referee Dan Deady gave Hennessy his marching orders.

They responded well and kept going, with a draw overall a fair result in the end. Both sides will have to do it all again in a replay at Ringmahon Park. That will be the fourth meeting between the teams in an FAI competition this campaign.

Bandon:  Steven O’Neill; John O’Donovan, Darren Cullen (Ger Harrington 84), Sean Holland, Shane Barry; Barry O’Mahony, Richie Holland (Owen Hurley 87) , Aidan O’Donoghue, Ronan Crowley; Keith Holden, Brendan Cullen. 

Subs not used: Sean Lordan, Lee Collins.

Ringmahon Rangers:   James Kirby (Richie Mc Sweeney 75); Jason Forde, Alan Higgins, Aidan Foley, Raymond Delaney; Paul Deasy, Roy Kenny; Robert Coughlan (David O’Leary 68), Kevin O’Regan (Jake Hawkins 58), Ian Long; Dion Hennessy.

Sub not used: Simon Woods.

Referee: Dan Deady.

Extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Keith Holden(Bandon).