Nostalgia Match of the Day: Cork AUL v Donegal League Feb 2006

Oscar Traynor TROPHY 12.02.06

Cork AULx 3 Donegalx League 0

Kinsale’s Ryan Coyle stepped off the bench and played a leading role as the Cork AUL strolled into the quarter-finals of the Statoil Oscar Traynor Trophy with an easy 3-0 win over the Donegal League at Casement Park yesterday (Sunday).

The opening minutes didn’t look all that rosy for the home side. Then, the visitors looked the better combination. They seem well up for it and their passing was good but they failed to deliver in the danger area.

Cork, with less of the ball, carried more threat and they illustrated that as early as the 4^th minute. Then Derek McCarthy crossed from the left and Mick Kennelly’s penalty box shot was blocked away.

Seven minutes later, McCarthy sent Ger Kelleher in and the Richmond man held off his marker before shooting. His low shot beat the keeper but sped just wide of the far post.

Chances were rare enough all round and it was the 27^th minute before there was another of note. Then Stephen Daly played a good ball forward and Delea fought hard to create space for a shot but his low effort also sped wide of the far post.

Cork had better luck in the 38^th minute. Then Daly floated in a free from the right and close to half-way. Skipper Jeremy O’Donovan headed down in the box and the unmarked McCarthy, a veteran of the Oscar Traynor, had all the space and time he needed to shoot past keeper Chris Gibson.

The home side held the initiative into the second half and should perhaps have scored five minutes in. Then Daly and fullback Trevor O'Brien combined. O'Brien’s cross from the right was “dummied” by Delea but McCarthy blasted well over.

The pair did better in the next minute. Cork broke on the left and McCarthy got clean away. The visiting keeper was slow enough to react to the cross, a low one, and Delea sped ahead of his marker to touch home number two from close range.

Donegal might have had made a match of it had they scored in the 52^nd minute. They came close. David Conwell set up captain Peter Doherty for a cross but the ball was just too far ahead of the incoming Noel O’Donnell and keeper Shane O'Leary gathered.

Coyne wasn't too far away from making it 3-0 a few minutes later, following good work by McCarthy and sub Eric Fleming, but his low drive from the right sped wide of the far stick.

Cork should have sealed it up in the 58^th minute when Delea and Daly combined to rob a Donegal defender close to half-way. Delea raced away with the ball and Coyle was up in support. But Delea went for goal himself and full back Conwell arrived on cue to boot the ball off the line.

Conwell also headed off the line in the 69^th minute when a Delea shot, after a corner, was on target and then Gibson saved well from raiding full back O'Brien.

The third goal arrived in the 78^th minute. Coyle sent fellow sub Fleming clear and his cool low finish found the net.

A disappointing visiting team never really threatened in the final quarter and Cork were more likely to add to their lead. They almost did so in the second last minute. Then a long goal kick by keeper O'Leary dropped behind the defence. Fleming expected it and collected and crossed towards the near post where sub Paul O'Mahony got in a header that wasn't too far away.

Cork AUL: Shane O'Leary (Macroom), Trevor O'Brien (do.), Jason Keegan (Leeside), Darragh Deasy (Macroom), John Betts (Villa Utd), Mick Kennelly (Leeside), Jeremy O’Donovan (Kinsale) captain, Derek McCarthy (Kinsale), Ger Kelleher (Richmond), Stephen Daly (Wilton Utd) and Derek Delea (Leeside). Subs used: Ryan Coyle (Kinsale) for Kennelly (21^st minute), Eric Fleming (Maymount Celtic) for Kelleher (half-time), John Paul Heffernan (Coachford) for Daly (65^th), Paul O’Mahony (Wilton Utd) for Delea (78^th) and Danny Searls (Kinsale) for McCarthy (83^rd). 

Donegal League: Chris Gibson (Convoy Arsenal), David Conwell (St Catherine’s), Dixie Gallagher (Milford Utd), Lee Herron (Cappry Rovers), Frank McGee (Gweedore Utd), Chris Toner (Lagan Harps), Daniel Breslin (St Catherine’s), Ceelan Kelly (Rathmullin), Peter Doherty (Milford Utd) captain, Kieran McElwaine (Whitestrand) and Noel O’Donnell (Bonagee Utd). Subs used: Paddy Carr (Whitestrand Utd) for O’Donnell (59^th minute), Mark Sweeney (Drumoghill Celtic) and Ciaran McGinley (Milford Utd) for Toner and Breslin (both 76^th minute).

Referee: Finbarr Murphy; assistants: Willie Long and Eddie McEvoy.

end of story