It's a goal feast for Dynamo Blues

Mike Rafferty

THE Michael Byrne Cup provided plenty of goals over the weekend as Dynamo Blues and Athenry shared nine between them as they forged victories over Oranmore and Kinvara United.

The contest in Tuam was a cracker where it finished 3-3 after 90 minutes, but extra time goals by Mark Sweeney and Keith Fleming eventually gave Blues a 5-3 win. The home side also made a good start and a John Farragher brace had them two up before Lonan O’Farrell reduced the margin to 2-1 before the break.

Oranmore were rewarded with an equaliser after the restart when David Eignor headed in an O’Farrell corner at the far post. A set piece was also instrumental in putting the home side back in front midway through the half when Darren Kelly scored.

Then just when it looked like Blues had done enough to win, Oranmore levelled matters in the last minute with O’Farrell setting up leading scorer Eric Lavine, with another header, to send the game into extra time.

Cathal Fahy and Davie Mahon exchanged opening half goals as Athenry and Kinvara finished the half tied at 1-1, but the quality of the home side shone through on the resumption as three unanswered goals saw them run out 4-1 winners. Stephen Rabbitte, Conor Cannon and Brian Mannion all hit the target in the second half.

In the remaining Michael Byrne Cup game, it finished scoreless after extra time between Medtronic and Corrib Rangers B, but visiting goalkeeper Martin McDonagh proved to be the Rangers hero for not only did he score their opening spot kick, he also made the match winning save from a Medtronic effort.

FAI JUNIOR CUPIt was a disastrous weekend for Galway sides as all four exited the Unbro FAI Junior Cup at the fifth round stage. Colmanstown certainly made a contest of it in Dublin when they faced Orchard Athletic in Ballyfermot, but an opening half goal gave the home side a 1-0 win. The visitors had their moments, but Jason Finn rattled the crossbar, while Conor Feeney had an effort smartly saved by the goalkeeper in the best of them.

A missed penalty by Christopher Greaney was to prove to be the downfall of Corrib Celtic as they were beaten 3-0 in Annaghadown by Nenagh Celtic. The visitors were two ahead at that stage, but the lifeline was spurned and thereafter the home side seldom looked like rescuing anything from the game.

Mervue United were beaten 3-1 by St Michael’s, Tipperary and this was a game that was always an uphill struggle for the home side. Deprived of the services of Stephen Cunningham, who suffered a serious leg injury after just five minutes, they were further handicapped by the dismissal of Shane Cunningham just a minute after the action resumed.

Pat Quinn (2) and an Eamon Feeney own goal always had the visitors in command, although Rynan Browne did pull one back for the home side. There was no joy for the students of NUIGalway in Donegal where they were beaten 2-0 by Lagan Harps.

For more, read page 47 of this week's Galway City Tribune.