Glenville 0 - 0 Beggsboro

It’s a long road to the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium but Glenville and Beggsboro, both of the Leinster Senior League, kicked off their journey with a scoreless draw at Palmerstown Community School on Easter Sunday morning.

Glenville’s home ground may be one of the more unconventional FAI Cup settings but the stakes were high with a potential tie against one of the League’s big-hitters awaiting the winners.

Neither side quite made the grade, though, as Glenville spurned a number of chances to advance at the expense of their Cabra opponents and into the hat for round two. When a clear sight of goal was presented to Donal Gilmar right on 90 minutes, with only Ian Donnelly in the Beggsboro goal to beat, he scuffed his shot and the keeper got down to save.

In truth, a winner would have been harsh on either side, who looked evenly matched in a nip and tuck affair. Early on, Glenville forced a succession of corners, few though got past ex-St. Patrick’s Athletic defender Anthony Costigan, stationed on the near post. On 11 minutes when a cross did get past Costigan, the post came to Beggsboro’s rescue from dangerman Gilmar’s header.

On 18 minutes Glenville ‘keeper Carl Donnelly flapped at a cross and, following a goal mouth scramble, David Martin pushed his attempted lob over the bar with Donnelly off his line. After that early pressure both sides survived to the half time whistle, clean sheets intact, with Beggsboro having come more into the game mid-way through the half, without creating much.

The start to the second half was delayed when referee, Brian Whelan, took exception to Anthony Costigan’s socks. Given the venue, Costigan could have been forgiven for thinking he was back in front of the school principal, as he was summoned to the centre circle by the referee. The problem? A pair of white ankle socks that defender was wearing were visible and therefore deemed inconsistent with the black strip that ‘Boro wore from the waist down.

The events of the extended half time period seemed to rally Beggsboro and they upped the ante after the break. On 47 minutes Beggsboro’s frontman, Wayne McDonald, won a free kick. Niall Mahon swung the ball into the box, but impressive defender, Darren McDonnell could only head across goal with no one there to apply the finish.

Just three minutes later Wayne McDonald was in down the right wing, but Carl Donnelly came smartly out of the Glenville goal to save. Again McDonald got in down the right on 53 minutes, following a Craig Dunne flick. His cross was gathered by Donnelly with Brian Vokes ominously lurking at the back post.

As this Cup tie swung from one end to the other, Gilmar put a free header wide for Glenville on 54 minutes, when well-placed. A minute later Beggsboro were down the other end with Liam Byrne drawing a smart save from Donnelly.

On the hour mark, and a minute after a timely tackle from Costigan when Gilmar threatened, the away side felt they should have had a penalty. After good work from Wayne McDonald dropping short into midfield, Stephen Fitzpatrick’s left wing cross was handled in the Glenville box. Beggsboro ferociously appealed for a penalty, but referee Whelan was having none of it.

On 71 minutes, Gilmar wasted another chance for Glenville when put through one-on-one with Ian Donnelly, dragging his shot just wide. Donnelly then saved from tricky Glenville winger, Christopher Doyle on 75 minutes, before Beggsboro had a goal ruled out for a push in the build up from McDonald.  

Having had the better of the second half, Beggsboro forced a number of corners in the final five minutes, with substitute striker Fintan Kennedy making a nuisance of himself in front of the Glenville goalkeeper.

It was Glenville though who had the final notable chance, but there was to be no dream finish for the Palmerstown side, as Gilmar fluffed his lines. Before either side can graduate to a potential plum tie with League of Ireland opposition, they must re-sit this test next Friday.

Glenville: Carl Donnelly, Ciaran McDonnell, Jason Hegarty, Philip Duffy, Stephen Scott, David Martin, Christopher Doyle, Bobby Cullen, Dean Robertson, Donal Gilmar, Carl Corcoran (Tommy Wynn 75).
Subs not used: Owen Keely, Stephen Holmes, Andrew Duffy, Jason Murtagh, Mark Roche, Ryan Russell.

Beggsboro: Ian Donnelly, Darren McDonnell, Niall Mahon (Stephen Parsons 77), Dean Lawless, Anthony Costigan, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Craig Dunne (Fintan Kennedy 85), Karl Costello, Liam Byrne, Wayne McDonald, Brian Vokes.
Subs not used: Lee Lismore, Christopher Kelly, Karl Carey.