Foley sends Crumlin into next round of Ryan Cup
IT WAS two set-pieces that made the difference for Crumlin United as they progressed past CIE Ranch in the third round of the Noel Ryan Cup, with a 2-0 victory in CIE Inchicore on Saturday.
United went 1-0 up after a corner whipped in by Leon Foley was met by Sam Burgess in the air just after the break and they confirmed their place in the next round of the cup when Foley tucked away a penalty at the death.
Crumlin United marched on in the Noel Ryan Cup
Although it was the away side who claimed the spoils, CIE left with their heads held high as they kept the away side scoreless for 70-minutes and goalkeeper Corey O’Brien turned in a stellar performance.
The travelling side got into the groove of things quickly through a nice forward-thinking style of play with full-backs Ian Cowzer and Dylan Whelan bombing forward to support their frontmen.
Ranch held their own share of possession too and managed to pin Crumlin back in their own half for periods, but despite their best efforts they couldn’t break through the solid defensive set-up led by Calvin Rogers and Kyle Dunphy.
By halftime, the sides were drawn level at 0-0 but it didn’t last long as the travelling side broke the deadlock from a corner just after the break.
Burgess, who had been dispatched on the left-wing, leapt like a salmon unchallenged to meet Foley’s swinging corner to find the back of the net.
Although, CIE responded almost immediately with a wonder strike by winger Karl Jess from 25 yards only for it to be matched in quality by Crumlin shotstopper Adam Kerry, who turned around the post for a corner.
Attacking midfielder Brian Rooney also had a chance to draw the sides level when he picked up the ball inside the box from a corner, only to balloon it over the bar.
Crumlin captain and midfield maestro Sean O’Connor controlled the tempo of the clash throughout and helped pile men forward for his sides second goal.
With Foley matching O’Connor’s rhythm, he burst into the Ranch box after some nice interplay with Callum Keane, only to be pulled down and left the game with a goal, an assist and a place in the next round of the cup after slotting the resulting penalty home.
CIE RANCH: C O’Brien, J Griffith, D Dunphy, W Haughton, G Darcy, G Doyle, K Jess, B Rooney, P Uzell, E Cullen, P Thomas, P Mooney, D O’Brien.
CRUMLIN UNITED: A Kerry, I Cowzer, D Whelan, C Rogers, K Dunphy, S O’Connor, S Burgess, C Mooney, L Foley, I Tuohy, C Keane, G McCardle, T Fahy, N Clarke, M Quinn.
