FAI Intermediate Cup Report: Crumlin United 5 - 0 Letterkenny Rovers

Crumlin United eased their way to the FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening with a stunning 5-0 victory.

Three goals from hat-trick hero Gregory Moorhouse as well goals from Alan McGreal and substitute Dean Hurley won the Dubliners the trophy.

It wasn’t long before Crumlin started to look dangerous as within twenty seconds, Conor Murphy had a low shot saved by Luke Kelly.

The pressure was building on the Letterkenny goal and they were lucky to be level after Ryan Lonergan nearly deflected a cross from the right into his own net on 12 minutes.

Two minutes later, Crumlin were ahead, as Gregory Moorhouse was slipped through on the right again and he took advantage of the space to calmly slot past Kelly.

Crumlin made their momentum count and were two ahead on 17 minutes when Moorhouse won a battle with Paul Boyle in the centre of Letterkenny’s defence and he forced the ball past Kelly in goal.

It was all Crumlin, and could easily have been three after a string of missed chances. First, a mistake from Jonathan Minnock saw Carl Forsyth have an effort from the side of the box saved by Kelly.

Then on 27 minutes, a free from the right swung in by Forsyth saw Captain James Lee glance a header wide of Kelly’s post.

Conor Murphy was controlling things at times for Crumlin and he did brilliantly down the right on the half hour mark, but McGreal volleyed his cross wide.

Daniel McGuinness then had an opportunity a minute later as he saw his free kick sail over from 25 yards out.

It was becoming more difficult to see a way back from Letterkenny as chances were few and far between. David Shovlin showed some skill as he got into the Crumlin box five minutes before the break, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner that came to nothing.

As the sides went into half time, Letterkenny would have been hoping to get back into the game but Crumlin nearly made it three after the restart as Luke Kelly saw his header saved from a corner.

They didn’t have to wait long though for the third, as on 54 minutes Alan McGreal got through on the left and he kept his cool before firing past the helpless Kelly. The timing of the goal was perfect for Crumlin as they put one hand on the trophy.

Moorhouse was on a hat-trick and had two chances to grab it as on the hour mark, the ball came loose in the box and his shot was parried wide by Kelly. Then on 74 minutes, Moorhouse broke down the right and saw his shot saved again by Kelly.

On 78 minutes, Letterkenny made a rare venture forward as a cross from subsitute Emeka reached Connaghan in the box but he headed the ball over the untroubled Supple in goal.

Soon after it was four. After some heavy pressure down the right, the ball fell to the feet of Dean Hurley, just on for McGreal, and he got the ball out of his feet to slot past the helpless Kelly.

Moorhouse got through again down the right but Kelly halted his claim for the match ball again with a fine save on 85 minutes.

Three minutes later however, Moorhouse did grab his third as the hat-trick hero flicked a brilliant ball from Forsyth in at the near post.

It was no more than Crumlin and Moorhouse deserved as they successfully retained their FAI Intermediate Cup.

Crumlin United: Shane Supple, Gavin Kavanagh (Paddy Brophy 80’), Daniel McGuinness, Thomas Hyland, Noel Murray, Luke Kelly (Jonathan Meleady 66’), Carl Forsyth, James Lee, Gregory Moorhouse, Conor Murphy, Alan McGreal (Dean Hurley 73’)

Subs Not Used: Sean Holmes, Ian Coone, Kevin Dempsey, Kieran Reilly

Letterkenny Rovers: Rory Kelly, Ryan Lonergan (Kevin McGrath 72’), Jonathan Minnock (Tristan Ferris 62’), Shane Bradley, Paul Boyle, Terence Shiels (Steve Emeka 60’), Paul McVeigh, Christy Connaghan, Darren McElwaine, Mark Forker, David Shovlin

Subs Not Used: Tommy Bonnar, Cathal McDaid, Kevin O’Donnell

Referee: Edwin McNally

Attendence: 3,106

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gregory Moorhouse (Crumlin United). 

You can see Peter Fitzpatrick's pictures from the game by clicking here.