Bearna and Bernard’s provide cup shocks
The willingness of the underdog to up their game and compete against better opposition in the cup is always refreshing and the weekend's action saw St Bernard's and Bearna Na Forbacha do that to such a level that they dismissed Mervue United and Hibernians in the FAI Junior Cup.
No doubt St Bernard's greatest day was winning the Premier Division in 2016 and over the years, the hill in Abbeyknockmoy has produced a few other shocks. On Sunday morning they came from behind to claim a big scalp with a 2-1 success over the city side.
The visitors took the lead just before the break through a Mark O'Halloran goal, but the home side responded with two of their own on the resumption. Dean Collins was the finisher on both occasions, as he swivelled in the box for the equaliser, before sliding a low finish past the advancing Daly for the second.
The across-the-hill wind did little to help the Mervue cause as they went chasing the game, with home custodian Paddy Mullins only threatened on a rare occasions in the closing stages.
Bearna Na Forbacha ply their trade a division below Hibernians, but that never impeded them as they secured a surprise 2-1 win. In a game played in Carraroe, the home side were two up at the break, as a Jordan Powell penalty put them ahead, before Ronan Bates added a second before the interval.
The city side enjoyed their fair share of possession on the resumption, but their only reward came in the final minute with a goal from Ignacio Gonzales.
In a meeting of two Premier Division sides, Maree-Oranmore were always likely to have too much firepower for neighbours Craughwell United as they emerged 8-2 winners. Eoin Shiel gave the visitors the perfect start, but they were not able to maintain the advantage for long as the home side opened up a 3-1 interval lead, through goals from Colm Whelan (pen), Ger O'Riordan and David McLoughlin.
Whelan and McLoughlin were to add further efforts on the resumption, and an Aaron Molloy brace and an own goal completed their tally. A late Matthew Faherty strike for Craughwell brought the scoring proceedings to a conclusion.
An early Morgan Leggett header got Athenry off on a solid footing when they went 1-0 up away against Salthill Devon in Drom and for almost an hour they kept the home side at bay. However, the concession of two set-piece goals in quick succession was to then turn the contest the way of the home outfit as they eventually prevailed 3-1.
Colin Kelly provided the assists for all their goals as Calym Crowe and Enda Curran applied close range finishes to his corners; before a pass set up substitute Cole Connolly to slide home the third,
While Athenry still contain a few players from previous years, the overall performance of a young side was impressive, as the likes of Ronan Hogan, Ciaran Browne, Sean McCoy, and Cory Walker are all building experience, but on this occasion they did not get enough opportunities to really punish the home side.
Elsewhere, the scheduled game between Colga and Kilshanvey United did not materialise as the North Galway conceded the game to their much higher-ranked opponents.
Colemanstown United were no match for Knocknacarra on Friday night as goals from Arek Janikowski, Dorian Sammon, Mikey Greaney and Oriel Prat eased the city side to a comfortable 4-0 away win. The outcome was the same as Corrib Rangers travelled to Tuam for a meeting with Dynamo Blues, as an opening half Nazim Ishmolov brace was added to by Victor Onas and Jose Henrique on the resumption as they also ran out 4-0 winners.
With the draw for the second round of the FAI Junior Cup already made, without a doubt the meeting of Colga and Salthill Devon is the most noteworthy.