Ringmahon Rangers power past Rockmount in Senior Cup quarter final
Ringmahon Rangers' Jack Cairns is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring against Rockmount, during their Beamish Stout Senior Cup quarter-final at Ringmahon Park. Picture: David Keane.
It was all too easy for Ringmahon Rangers as they made light work of Rockmount to advance to the Beamish Stout Senior Cup semi-final.
Their 4-0 victory at Ringmahon Park on Thursday evening was comfortable from start to finish, with the visitors unable to mount any real attacking threat throughout the ninety minutes.
Despite being outclassed for the first 45, Rockmount would have been pleased with their defensive efforts in that first period, and they were still very much in with a chance beginning the second period.
That was until the 47th minute, when defender Adam Crowley mistimed his slide tackle, and former Cork City footballer Ethon Varian went down in the box. Ringmahon captain Anthony McAlavey stepped up and blasted it into the far corner, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.
It was always going to be tough for Rockmount from there. They battled hard though, not allowing Rangers to get further ahead, and were unfortunate when Conor Nolan’s corner found Alex Anthony O’Brien, but his shot was well saved in the 78th minute.
Four minutes from there, though, Ringmahon killed the game – Adam Delurey teeing up Nathan Broderick, who fired a brilliant effort into the top corner at Oisin Barry’s near post.
They rubbed salt into the Rockmount wounds after 87 minutes, Jamie O’Sullivan setting up Varian for a one-on-one finish that was beautifully chipped over Barry.
The scoreline wasn’t reflective of Rockmount’s efforts, though. Substitute Denis Gavrya had an outstanding second half down the left wing, looking to cause trouble any time he was in possession. Captain Kenneth Hoey was superb in defence, but what cost Rockmount was their final ball – never accurate enough throughout the game.
In the end, quality told. The hosts were well in control throughout the entirety of the first period. In that spell, Rockmount only managed one clear-cut chance, a shot that was well blocked in the 18th minute.
Rangers took the lead early, with only 23 minutes elapsed, and it was an outstanding goal from Jack Cairns.
Roy Kenny passed to Cairns just inside the box. He flicked it up, pivoting slightly, before blasting it on the volley across goal and into the far corner. It was a beautiful strike, and no less than they deserved at that stage.
With five minutes gone Ringmahon had come agonisingly close to scoring; Delurey rattled the crossbar from a brilliant free kick just outside the Rockmount box.
Rangers finished the first half with five wides, and another good chance that was saved by Barry, with Anthony Whitehead and Broderick working it to Cairns, though he couldn’t get enough power behind his effort.
Ringmahon would hit the crossbar again in the latter period – Cairns’ header in the 51st minute bouncing off the crossbar and claimed by Barry before it could trickle over the line.
A minute after that, they forged another golden chance – Cairns working it to O’Sullivan, who crossed the ball to McAlavey, but the ball was just too far ahead and out of reach of the skipper’s diving header.
Their misses never looked likely to prove costly, though. Having already beaten College Corinthians 7-0 in the second round, they were favourites for this one and didn’t disappoint at home.
E Grimes; A Delurey, C McCarthy (A Ahern 74), A Whitehead, G Towler (D O’Shea 79); J O’Sullivan, R Kenny (O Ross 86), N Broderick; E Varian, J Cairns (C Harlson 79), A McAlavey (c).
O Barry; J Hannafin, K Hoey (c), A Crowley; J McSweeney (K Kenneally 58), J O’Connell, A Anthony O’Brien, M Connolly; N Hanley (C O’Donovan 90), C Nolan (N Falvey 82), S Barry (D Gavrya 35 inj).
Declan Fogarty
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