- Chris McNulty
- Sun, May 27 2012
Kildrum Tigers' FAI Cup aspirations were ended by clinical Avondale United.
The Cork side scored a deserved 3-1 win in St Johnston, just two weeks after winning the Intermediate Cup. Man of the Match Mark O'Sullivan netted twice, either side of a Conor Meade header, to see them through to round three.
Cormac Carlin scored a fine free-kick for the home side, but a spirited response was too little, too late.
Buoyed by their fifth Intermediate success in the last seven years, Avondale were in St Johnston with intent, a day after having stopped at the races in the Curragh en route to Donegal.
This was a day for the favourites as Kildrum couldn't muster an upset. The home side came into the game without captain Paddy McLaughlin, suspended after his sending off last Sunday in the Knockalla Cup semi-final. To add to their woes, the influential Neil Lloyd failed a late fitness test, forcing Raymond McDaid into a rejig.
An early warning was posted when O'Sullivan got in around the back, only for Ryan McGarvey to step in with a timely interception. The Leesiders were without their captain too as Karl Caulfield also missed out to suspension.
It took Avondale just ten minutes to edge ahead, O'Sullivan getting on the end of David Spratt's pass to steer to the bottom corner past Marty McGinty.
As the half wore on, Kildrum emerged from their shell. Jonny McGinty's teasing ball in forced 'keeper Daniel O'Leary to commit himself. He spilled and just managed to smother possession under strong pressure from Gavin Doherty.
Kildrum had a good chance of an equaliser five minutes before the break. Oisin McMenamin got a rare moment of joy down the left channel and he opted to shoot, rather than square to Carlin, but O'Leary was equal to his effort.
O'Sullivan smacked against the bar with the second-half still in its infancy, but just eight minutes into part two, Avondale doubled the lead. Conor Meade headed home with ease from close range after connecting with an O'Sullivan cross.
O'Sullivan himself came close again just after the hour, but McGinty tapped wide after the powerful Cork man muscled his way into the box. O'Sullivan wouldn't be denied on 69 minutes as he steered home from six yards out after connecting with an inch-perfect pass in from the left flank.
Fourteen minutes from the end, Kildrum pulled one back. O'Leary was adjudged to have handled outside the box and Carlin stepped up to curl a superb effort over the wall and past the static netminder.
Sub Darren Doran had a glorious chance to inch Kildrum even closer, but he was off balance when Carlin's centre fell into his path. It was Avondale who finished the stronger with Meade denied by McGinty and then O'Sullivan being denied by the woodwork a second time.
"Our lads deserve great credit for coming up here and getting the result," said Avondale manager John Cotter. “After a long, hard season it's hard to keep men motivated, but they have a great attitude and that is what has us where we are. It's great to be heading into the last 16 of the senior cup. It's a great bonus for our lads now."
Kildrum Tigers: Marty McGinty; Jonny McGinty, Dermot Kelly, Ryan McGarvey, Darren Cassidy; Gary Crossan (Darren Doran 58), Darren McCready, Glen Bovaird (Damien Crossan 72), Oisin McMenamin; Gavin Doherty (Ronan Coyle 66), Cormac Carlin.
Subs not used: Neill Lloyd, Kevin Doran, Gareth Colhoun.
Avondale United: Daniel O'Leary; David Spratt, Michael Mulcahy, Graham McCarthy, Declan Cahill; Eoghan Lougheed, Hugh Donovan, Brian Murphy, Mark O'Sullivan; Conor Meade, Danny Long.
Subs not used: John Cotter.
Referee: Terence Moyne.
