Banner Flooring Clare Cup Preliminary Round

Bridge Utd A 3 - 1 Bunratty/Cratloe

Bridge Utd A advance to the first round of this year's Clare Cup after victory over near neighbours Bunratty/Cratloe.

It was the visitors who nearly stole an early lead when Paul Touhy acrobatically tipped over a Sean Burke lob inside 10mins.

After a scrappy start played in a difficult wind the home side soon began to dominate possession. The breakthrough came mid way through the first half when Stephen Stewart recovered the ball in midfield and moved it to Leon Daly. Daly took off on a mazy run dancing his way past the defenders before blazing a left footed strike low past the keeper.

Brian Corry was unlucky to see a header narrowly go over the bar after a good cross from the right by Jordan Downes.

The second half was just 6mins old when Stephen Stewart curled a great goal in to the top corner from 25 yards out to double the home sides advantage.

Indeed the Bridges changes were greater helped when the away sides full back was shown a second yellow card and given his marching orders on 65mins.

Kieran Quinlan had the ball in the net soon after only for his goal to be ruled our for offside. The 3rd goal did however arrive on 78mins when Jordan Downes tucked away a one on one to put the game to bed.

To there credit Bunratty did pull one back on 85mins when a well delivered free kick was whipped in to the Bridge box and headed to the back of Paul Touhys net.

Overall Bridge will be happy with the result and are now set up to face Newmarket Celtic B in the first round of the Cup.

1. Paul Touhy
2. Dan Larkin
3. Leon Kelly
4. Alan Mulready
5. Jonathan Downes
6. Steve Stewart
7. Jordan Downes
8. Adam Fitzpatrick
9. Kieran Quinlan
10. Leon Daly
11. Brian Corry

Subs
Enda Boyce
Conor Deasy
Jason Loughnane
Luke Shea
Mikey Carr