FAI Junior Cup Report
FAI Junior Cup 5th Round
Rosemount Mulvey FC 0
Buncrana Hearts FC 1
Played in very difficult conditions both teams deserve huge credit for producing an entertaining game of football. The Hearts started brightly and had a half chance in the 3rd minute when Declan Fullerton whipped in a corner that both Gerard Mc Laughlin & Gerard Boyle just failed to get on the end of.
The home side had a spell of pressure resulting in Shane Andrews firing a shot from twenty yards which just went over the bar. The home side appealed for a penalty on 15 minutes when Liam Byrne went over in the box but referee Murphy quite rightly booked him for diving. The Hearts had a double opportunity to take the lead on 25 minutes firstly the ball broke to Mikey Friel who’s goal bound shot was superbly blocked by a defender and the ball broke to James Adair 20 yards out and his sweetly struck shot was brilliantly turned round the post by Chris Mc Cudden. Back came Rosemount and it was the turn of Hearts goalkeeper Eoghain O`Doherty to show his worth firstly saving superbly from Sam Megan’s free-kick and then producing a fantastic save with his feet to deny Shane Andrews leaving the sides level at the interval.
The Hearts had the conditions in their favour in the second half and set about go after the home side. Gerard Boyle was unlucky to not give the Hearts the lead early in the second half when his cracking header from Declan Fullerton’s cross smashed off the crossbar leaving Mc Cudden in the home goal helpless. John Timlin had the next chance when he got forward and hit a shot from twenty yards that took a deflection and just clipped the top of the bar. The home side were content to sit back and hit on the break and they nearly nicked a goal midway through the half when Foley broke down the left and his cross found Barry at the back post but he put his header horribly wide. The Hearts did take the lead deservedly so in the 86th minute when Calvin Gallagher’s corner eluded everyone and found the net to spark wild celebrations. The Hearts should have got a second in the 90th minute when Darrach O’Connor played Mikey Friel through on goal and the striker’s attempted lob brought an excellent save from Mc Cudden. Minute’s later referee Murphy blew the final whistle and the Hearts went through to face Killarney FC in the next round at home.
