Munster Junior Cup 17.12.05
Villax United 1 Kinsalex 0 (after extra time)
Premier League champions Kinsale were knocked out of a second major competition in less than a week when Villa United’s centre forward Derek O’Connor showed them a 1-0 extra time exit from the Lucozade Sport Munster Junior Cup at Pfizer Park on Saturday.
It was another good result for Villa who, in contrast to Kinsale, won their FAI tie of the previous weekend. But it was a pretty poor game.
There were few decent patches of play as the two well-matched sides cancelled each other out in all areas of the field and neither displayed the form shown in their FAI Cup games.
The winner, in the fourth minute of extra time, followed a foul by Dave Barry on David Knowles in midfield. Michael O’Connor sent the free towards the Kinsale box but it took a mis-timed header by Kinsale midfielder Colin Kilty to create the opening. Villa striker Conor Murray won the second header and strike partner O’Connor, on a poacher’s run, met the ball behind the defence and fired past keeper Graham Quinn from close range.
Kinsale had a couple of half chances in the second period. A mis-kick by Villa’s Paul Murphy in his own box could have ended up in the net and then another defensive error gave Kilty a shot but that was blocked before it got to the keeper.
Kinsale had come close to snatching victory with less then three minutes of normal time to go. Then Jeremy O’Donovan's well placed free released Barry on the right and his cross skimmed off the head of unmarked incoming colleague Pat Murphy.
Murphy had to limp off injured after that near thing but an earlier injury to defensive colleague Ben Ryan saw Kinsale lose one of their more promising players. Ryan made some terrific runs from defence in the opening 35 minutes but injured his leg on a 36th minute raid and had to be replaced.
Kinsale tried three subs over the ninety minutes but hardly had a sniff at goal. Their best effort came midway through the second half and followed some neat passing between Declan Ryan, Peter Jones and Derek McCarthy who combined to set up Ken Harrington for a snap shot that looked good for the bottom corner until Mossie O'Neill dived to his right to turn the ball behind for a corner.
The Villa back four, with the experienced pair of O’Connor and Knowles doing well in the centre, were excellent throughout and their midfield gave as good as they got. Despite some aerial success for Murray, their forwards were, like Kinsale’s, starved of chances.
Murray might have given Villa the lead in the 73rd minute. Then a neat through ball from John Betts put him into the box but, under pressure, his 16 yard shot was comfortably saved by Quinn. Murray though would have the satisfaction of setting up the winner in extra time.
Villa United: Maurice O’Neill, Liam Egar, Terry O’Callaghan, Michael O’Connor, David Knowles, Larry Betts, John Betts, Paul Murphy (captain), Derek O’Connor, Conor Murray and Alan Daniels. Subs used: Jonathan McCarthy and John Paul Murphy for Daniels and L. Betts (both 65th minute) and Brian O’Callaghan for Murray (111th minute).
Kinsale: Graham Quinn, Pat Murphy, Lyndon Kiely, Ben Ryan, Ryan Coyne, Jeremy O’Donovan, Derek McCarthy, Ken Harrington, Declan Ryan and Dave Barry (captain). Subs used: Peter Jones for B. Ryan (36th minute, injured), Sean Foran for Jones (81st) and Florence Lynch for Murphy (90th, injured).
Referee: Denis Crowley.
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