Ben Jenkins strike wins it for Grangevale in this Munster Junior Cup tie with Riverstown

Grangevale 1

Riverstown 0

IT took a sparkling strike from Ben Jenkins in the 73rd minute to decide the outcome as Grangevale ran out narrow 1-0 winners over Riverstown in their FAI Junior Cup first round tie at Mayfield United’s all-weather facility.

Riverstown will certainly regret not taking advantage of some decent chances they had in a first half that saw them overpower the AUL side.

Grangevale looked unsettled from the off and it was no surprise to see Riverstown engineer the first chance of note when Luke Mylod was allowed space and time to strike towards goal, but his effort lacked then necessary conviction to trouble Kennedy between the sticks for Grangevale.

But, at the other end, Phillip Sweetnam was unlucky to see his rasping effort whistle narrowly wide.

When play soon shifted to the other end, a headed clearance fell for Ben Buckley who struck his effort over from a favourable position.

Then, when James Kelleher’s intended cross for Tabb came into the box, it seemed to deceive everyone until Sid O’Herlihy came to Riverstown’s rescue when he cleared off his line.

Riverstown threatened immediately after that and after Gary Connolly cracked a decent effort which saw Kennedy tipping around the post, Ben Buckley then fired his effort wide from outside the box.

John Barry managed to squeeze a nice ball into space for Phillip Sweetnam, but from an acute angle, he was denied by a solid near-post save by Rory Teehan.

A great chance then fell for Riverstown when Gary Connolly found a way through, but with just the keeper to beat, he fired straight at Kennedy.

And following a corner, Adam Burke rose highest, but could only manage to head straight into the arms of Kennedy.

Then, the final action in a first 45 that was dictated by Riverstown saw John O’Sullivan clear the bar by just inches with a forceful free kick.

The first ten minutes of the second period was fairly even until Billy Tabb cracked a decent effort from the distance that sailed wide of the target.

And when Jacob Moleli crossed low into the box, John Barry pounced, but was denied by a firm block by John O’Sullivan.

Tabb then broke on the left, but his intended cross for the available Sweetnam was cut out with precision by John O’Sullivan.

In a reverse move, Sweetnam released Tabb minutes later, but Rory Teehan produced a sprawling save to deny the Grangevale striker.

But, on the 73rd minute the ice was broken and what a goal it was.

It all developed from a throw ball on the right which in the end, Riverstown failed to defend by not clearing their lines and when a breaking ball fell kindly for Ben Jenkins, he unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt which torpedoed into the roof of the net to hand the hosts the lead.

A quick response from Riverstown saw Gary Connolly getting space for himself before testing Ryan Kennedy with a stinging effort.

Soon afterwards, Grangevale had a chance to double their advantage, but Phillip Sweetnam failed to steady himself properly to apply the necessary force to his shot and as a consequence, the ball was cleared off the line.

With nothing now to lose and the clock running down towards its final moments, Riverstown threw caution to the wind in an effort to force the game into extra time, but following a number of late assaults on the Grangevale rear-guard, Riverstown were nearly caught on the break when Tabb broke free from his marker, but steered agonisingly wide of the far post.

It mattered little though as Grangevale look forward to their next adventure in the competition.

Grangevale: Ryan Kennedy, John Barry, Greg Barry, Ben Jenkins, Alan Buckley, James Kelleher, Jacob Moleli, Dan Harvey, Billy Tabb, David Barrett and Phillip Sweetnam.

Subs: Diarmuid O’Neill for Greg Barry (half-time), Daniel Kelleher for James Kelleher (65), Corey Harris for Jacob Moleli (75).

Riverstown: Rory Teehan, Adam Burke, John O’Sullivan, Sid O’Herlihy, Corey Harris, Alex O’Driscoll, Ben Buckley, Fionn Barry, Killian O’Sullivan, Gary Connolly and Luke Mylod.

Subs: Eoin O’Sullivan for Ben Buckley (65), Luke Crowley and Cathal O’Sullivan for Fionn Barry and Luke Mylod (75), Zac Aherne for Killian O’Sullivan (85).

Referee: Alan McDonagh.