Hat-trick hero Jamie Murphy leads way as Village United beat Watergrasshill in style
The Village United side that had a 5-1 victory over Watergasshill United in the quarter-final of the Mossie Linnane Cup at Silverheights. Piture: Barry Peelo.
Jamie Murphy scored a hat-trick as Village United grabbed five to seal progression into the semi-final of the Mossie Linnane Cup following a 5-1 victory over Watergrasshill United at Silverheights.
Although the Hill were understrength, they put up a brave performance, but Village had just too much in the tank on the day.
Both sides showed a lot of energy from the off and Tomas Butler was tested early when he had to stretch to divert an effort from a free kick out for a corner.
Soon after, Village nosed in front and it arrived when hesitancy from the Hill’s keeper gave the advancing Craig Keegan the opportunity to find space before slotting home to an unprotected net on five minutes.
A response from the Hill then saw Sam Dennehy rob Keegan before gaining an extra yard, but the Village defender redeemed himself promptly by making ground enough to prevent the Hill’s striker getting a cross in where Conor Kroll lurked with intent.
This was followed by a turn and strike by Jamie Murphy at the other end that flew over.
And following neat build up play from the hosts, Steven Long helped on for Jamie Murphy who forced Daniel Dennehy to stretch before pushing out for a corner.
Village then came close again after that when Aaron Hennessy helped on for Jamie Murphy who found Steven Long to fire agonisingly wide.
At the other end, Sam Dennehy figured he had enough space to get a shot away, but a sharp Graham Cummins had other ideas when he produced a top-drawer block.
A half chance fell for the Hill, but from Brendan Maloney’s free kick, David Warren could not get a vital touch while inside the box.
But, Village doubled their advantage when Jamie Murphy got a touch before unleashing an unstoppable effort following good work from Long on 23.
Long himself was so unlucky to see his effort whistle past the far upright after being played in by Aaron Hennessy.
The Hill found a way back into the contest when after being awarded a penalty for a hand-ball incident inside the box, Sam Dennehy slammed home to the bottom corner to make it 2-1 on the half-hour.
Village responded promptly and when Steven O’Donnell saw his effort blocked before landing for Colin Hickey, the midfielder came so close to steering the loose ball into top corner.
Conor Kroll did have space down the right channel, but when he tried to cut inside, he showed too much of it to Graham Cummins which in the end, denied him the chance of a potential goal-scoring opportunity.
With just seconds to the interval, a great chance fell for Village – Steven Long played a sumptuous ball through for Steven O’Donnell, but the Hill’s keeper made himself big enough to get in the way of O’Donnell’s effort.
Steven O’Donnell introduced the second half by producing a driving run which saw him skip past three players before Daniel Dennehy raced off his line to abort his intentions to go all the way.
Jamie Murphy had two chances in quick succession after that when he first drove over from the edge of the box before firing straight a Dennehy with a low effort.
What a chance fell for Village’s Aaron Hennessy when after turning his marker inside the box, he somehow dragged his effort wide of the upright.
And when Jamie Murphy drilled wide after collecting from Steven O’Donnell, the Hill came so close towards claiming an equaliser when Stephen McCarthy saw his rasping effort skim the far post.
Then, Jamie Murphy’s fizzing effort from a free kick dipped narrowly over before Sean Horgan brought an excellent save from Tomas Butler following a free kick at the other end.
But, when Jamie Murphy fired home to the far corner for his second, he completed his hat-trick with a low effort to make it 4-1 on 86.
Then adding the icing to the cake was James Barry when he produced an excellent finish from Hennessy’s knock-back in the dying seconds – 5-1 to Village in the end.
Tomas Butler, Kyle Quinn, Graham Cummins, Steven Thompson, Craig Keegan, Shane Geraghty, Colin Hickey, Steven O’Donnell, Steven Long, Aaron Hennessy, Jamie Murphy.
Patrick Mooney for Steven Long (60), James Barry for Colin Hickey (88).
Daniel Dennehy, Andrew Chandler, Eddie O’Connell, Sean Horgan, Michael John O’Sullivan, Brendan Maloney, Owen Desmond, Conor Kroll, Sam Dennehy, David Warren, Stephen McCarthy.
Paul Cashman for Michael John O’Sullivan (13), Daniel Cronin for Eddie O’Connell (58).
Vlastimir Albert.
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