Eoin Murphy and Luke Hurley send Rockmount into Munster Senior Cup semis
Eoin Murphy, Rockmount, celebrates his first-half goal. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Eoin Murphy and Luke Hurley were on target as Rockmount defeated College Corinthians in the Munster Senior Cup quarter-final at Castletreasure.
Goals in the first and last minute put Jason Purcell's side into the next round, for the fifth time in six seasons. Rockmount always held an edge on the night, as their unbeaten run stretched to nine games in all competitions.
College Corinthians used the quarter-final to give a starting debut to Oscar Ahern, a new addition from Cobh Ramblers. Gary Hackett's side, went in aiming to reach the semis as reigning FAI Intermediate Cup champions.
The Mount just held an edge, and this led to a fast start that accumulated in Eoin Murphy firing in after collecting a Hurley pass.
Rockmount continued to control proceedings after taking the lead, with the next chance coming from an Eoin Murphy free kick on the edge of the penalty area, and Douwe Van Sinderen cleared this for Corinthians. Martin Connolly followed this up, from a corner, and saw his effort go just over the bar.
Corinthians soaked up the pressure, before winning a free kick on the left wing. Craig Donnellan sent this in and managed to win his side a corner, which led to an Ian Turner shot getting blocked at the near post on the half-hour mark.
Cian Leonard responded for Rockmount by twisting into space, beating his marker, and narrowly missing the target.
Corinthians were forced into a change before the break and this meant another debut, former Cork City striker Harvey Skieters in place of Ahern.
There was an immediate increase in their pace during the second half, leading to a number of free-kicks in threatening positions. Donnellan dropped the ball in, time on time again, but clear-cut chances were mute with the best of the bunch knocked harmlessly wide by Evan Galvin in the 55th minute.
The Mount came through the storm, and injected fresh legs into their side by bringing on Brian O'Mahony and Adam Crowley for Leonard and Arminas Balevicius.
They combined to wrestle control back in favour of Rockmount as time ticked on and the rain came down.
Corinthians did managed to win a corner despite this, and Okonkwo headed this into the hands of Adam Mylod in the 78th minute.
Things got complicated for the home side late on as Donnellan was sent off after receiving a second yellow.
Corinthians continued to attack, with the likes of Turner whipping crosses into the box but nothing came together.
Hurley then drove one in from distance in injury time, as the home side dealt with the dismissal of Killian Cooper.
That rubber-stamped the win for Rockmount, who host Munster Senior League champions Midleton next week on home soil in Whitechurch.
Gavin Ryan; Ian Turner, Adam Walsh, Eric Cunningham, Andrew Neville, Craig Donnellan, Oscar Ahern, Evan Galvin, Douwe Van Sinderen, Killian Cooper, Destiny Okonkwo.
Harvey Skieters for Ahern (40); Padraig McGrath for Van Sinderen (83), Dylan O'Sullivan for Galvin (89).
Adam Mylod; Martin Connolly, Ken Hoey, Arseni Lamonov, Cian Murphy, James O'Connell, Eoin Murphy, Arminas Balevicius, Cian Leonard, Luke Hurley, Ian Mylod.
Brian O'Mahony for Leonard (71); Adam Crowley for Lamonov (73), Denis Gavrya for E Murphy (90).
Tom McCarthy
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