Shelbourne 0-1 Crumlin United

• Simon Carter
• Mon, Jun 15 2009


FAI Intermediate Cup winners Crumlin United have produced the shock of the FAI Cup Third Round, beating first divsion Shelbourne in an entertaining tie at Tolka Park. Martin Cramer got the games only goal after seventy five minutes of play.

Man of the Match, Cramer burst forward from his defensive midfield position to latch on to Gavin Kavanaghs ball, which deceived the Shelbourne defence. Keeping his cool, he neatly slipped the ball past the advancing Dean Delaney and into the net to give the Leinster Senior League side a place in the last 16.

In what was an evenly matched first half, both sides had half chances in the first fifteen minutes. However, it was Crumlin that came closest to breaking the deadlock when Anthony Kavanagh broke free on the right and crossed towards Tony Griffiths. Griffiths looked certain to score but Dean Delaney bravely left his line and claimed the ball.

David Cassidy was involved in most things attack related for the hosts and the former Dundalk man fired wide from long distance after a poor clearance. Shelbourne then had a goal ruled out after referee Derek Tomney adjudged goalkeeper Gareth Sutton to have been fouled.

Crumlin continued to push and created another great chance midway through the half. Robert Douglas, impressive throughout, whipped in a cross and James Lee came within inches of opening the scoring with a driven header.

Anto Flood then tried his luck from distance, cutting in from the right he struck a low shot goalbound but Sutton got down quickly to save. Griffiths was again in the thick of things just before the break, firing over the crossbar from fifteen yards after good work and a dangerous cross from full back Gavin Kavanagh.

Shels were caught cold right at the start of second half and but for some slackness from the Crumlin front two would have found themselves a goal down. A high ball then caused the Crumlin centre back pairing of Ciaran Kenna and Damien Cuffe all sorts of problems. Flood hoped to prosper from their indecision but sent his effort tamely over the top.

Lee had another great chance minutes after that but failed to connect at the back post. At the other end, Shels had a penalty appeal waved away when Peter Hynes thought the ball struck Kenna below his elbow. With just over twenty minutes left on the clock Robert Douglas weaved his way past three challenges just outside the box, but when it came to shooting he scuffed his shot and Delaney saved with ease. However, Cramer then stepped up to the plate, booking the Intermediate Cup winners' place in the fourth round.

A mix up in the Shels defence ten minutes from time presented Crumlin with a great chance to extend their lead but Stephen Larkin was denied when Delaney pulled off a fantastic point blank save. Anthony Kavanagh then dragged his shot narrowly wide when Douglas had picked him out with a pinpoint through ball.

Shelbourne: Delaney, Quigley, Crawley, Keely (mcMillan 73), Doherty, OBrien, McGill, Cassidy, Hynes, Flood, McAllister.Subs: Brennan, Baker, Murray, McMillian, Whelan.

Crumlin:Sutton, Kavanagh (McCreevy 79) , Griffin, Kenna (OBrien 87) , Cuffe, Cramer, Larkin, Lee, A Kavanagh (Corcoran 93) , Griffiths, Douglas Subs: McCreevy, O'Brien, Redmond, Corcoran, Carlisle, Sooner, Hyland.