Brilliant B’s through to last 16
A spirited performance from Bridge United B away to Premier Division Tulla United A secured a place in Round 3. The clubs B team who have a great record in this competition contesting the final in 2010 and 2011 caused the upset of the round with a 1-0 win thanks to a second half Gavin Downes penalty. The visitors could have doubled their advantage after Trevor Maxwell was fouled in the Tulla box Downes effort was saved second time around.
Team: Barry Deasy, Donald Devanney, Johnny Hayes, Cathal Kinnane, Mark Hehir, Eric Carr, Conn Agnew, Brendan Murphy, Seamus Barrett, Gavin Downes, Trevor Maxwell
Subs: Eoin Gough for Barrett, Alan McAuley for Agnew, Cian Ward for Hehir, Fionn Mac Giollacearra for Downes
10 man Bridge suffer defeat despite brave comeback
Some days your luck is just not in!
Bridge will look back on this fixture as a game they should have won despite playing for 70 minutes with 10 men. Playing their home games in LIT the bridge should have opened the scoring in the first minute but Darren Whelan was quick off his line to stop Mike McNamara’s effort.
The visitors took the lead on 6 minutes in bizarre fashion when Kevin Kellys volleyed clearance at the edge of the box was blocked down by Evan Barry and flew into the net. Town were 2 up on 10 minutes when David Cove brilliantly lobbed Paul Touhy in the Bridge goal from an almost impossible angle.
Bridge responded well and were back in the game on 18 minutes when Eoghan Pewter headed home a Kieran Quinlan cross.
On 20 minutes Darragh Fitzgerald was shown a straight red card following a challenge on Jamie Cullen. Both players whole heartedly challenged for the ball, Cullen getting their a fraction a head.
Town had a chance to stretch their lead against the run of play on 35 minutes but Touhy brilliantly stopped the attempted lob from Colin Scanlon.
Bridge dominated possession for majority of game but Town were very well organised and difficult to break down. Jon Okoros introduction on 70 minutes seemed to be the resolution and his instant impact had the teams level on 73 minutes when he broke through the tackle of Darren Griffen and crossed for Mikey McNamara to score.
It seemed at this stage that the 10 men would secure a remarkable comeback and Fahys effort on 85 minutes was deflected over Whelan in the Town goal but clipped the crossbar and out. As was the case with the fixture earlier in the season between these two sides there was to be a sucker punch at the death.
And again it was struck by the league leaders when Robbie Walls cross in injury time was headed home by substitute Garry O’ Connell.
Tough pill to take for the home side but many positives to be taken from the performance.
Team: Paul Touhy, Christy Griffen, Darren Murphy, Alan Mulready, Kevin Kelly, Conor Deasy, Darragh Fitzgerald, Derek Fahy, Eoghan Pewter, Mikey McNamara, Kieran Quinlan
Subs: Jon Okoro for Quinlan, Brian O’Connor for Pewter, Jordan Downes for McNamara
