Balrothery FC 3 Shelbourne FC AFL 2 AET (Maher Cup, Round 2) - Reds Independent - 03/23/2009
Shelbourne were left despairing at what might have been, after they were cruelly dumped out of the Maher in the dying minutes of extra-time. As expected, Balrothery came flying out of the traps, but the visitors managed to withstand the early onslaught. And it wasn't long until Shels gained a foothold in the game- and they did so in spectacular fashion. The Shelbourne winger, 25-30 yards out, cut inside and unleashed a belter which found its way in the far corner of the net, as the Balrothery netminder got a hand on the strike but failed to claw it away.
While the visitors, yet again, had their inspirational keeper McDonnell to thank on a couple of occasions in the first half, they largely saw out the first half comfortably.
In the second half, as the heat began taking its toll, Shels finally succumbed to the incessant Balrothery pressure. The hosts broke down their left side, and the attacker cut in, shooting from the edge of the box, through the legs of Grant and just inside McDonnell's front post. All square.
So, extra-time it was to be. A through ball down the heart of the Reds rearguard left an on-rushing Balrothery attacker with the goal at his mercy (and off-side, by his own admission). He duly obliged and tucked it away to put the home side in the lead for the first time in the game.
Nevertheless, Shels dug in and went 3 up top, drafting Cooke in to the frontline. And the tactical move paid of as the away side earned a penalty thanks to a jersey pull in the area. Cooke stepped up, and despite the enormous pressure he was undoubtedly under, calmly sent the keeper the wrong way and guided the ball home. Sides level again!
Sadly, there was to be a sting in the tail for Shelbourne. With a Balrothery attacker ominously dribbling at the by-line, Shels centre half Paul Reilly took his opponent down, and the ref was left with no choice put to award the penalty. And on this rare occasion, McDonnell was beaten from 12 yards. And that was that, in what was an epic tussle. So, there'll be no cup run for Shels this year as they are left with only the league to concentrate on, after the upcoming international break this weekend.
Team (4-4-2, right to left):
Colm McDonnell
Mark Grant Paul Reilly Donnchadh Mac Aogain John Mernock
Neil Curry Stef Ruddell Derek O'Neill (C) Ciaran O'Rourke
Chris Burke Paul Sheridan
SUBS: Eoin O'Rourke on for Chris Burke John Reilly on for Neil Curry Vinny Cooke on for John Mernock
