Mallow Town into AOH Cup semis after stunning Grattan

Grattan A 2 Mallow Town 3

League 3 side Mallow Town produced a huge cup upset when they ousted Premier side Grattan United A in the AOH Cup quarter-final at O’Neill Park.

It was a massive display from the underdogs, who also dispatched Premier side Village United 2-1 in the previous round.

They fought for every ball, showed gritty determination throughout and really demonstrated that with huge desire and will to win, anything is achievable.

Grattan, on the other hand, just could not get going as they were faced against a side that had an insatiable appetite to win the game on the night.

Eoin Howell got the tie off to a sparkling start when his effort dipped over from 25 and when a clearance arrived for Grattan’s Jake Murray, he cleared the bar also with his effort.

Grattan found themselves in front when from Jake Murray’s corner, Anthony O’Callaghan produced a clinical finish after he found the corner to fire the hosts in front on ten minutes.

Christy Bullman gathered on the right before firing over a cross that Gary Coughlan touched wide of the post.

At the other end, Eoin Howell was unlucky to see his cracking effort flash inches wide of the post.

And when a cross from Jake Murray arrived for Aaron Broderick, he rifled wide from a favourable position.

Then, from a corner, Anthony O’Callaghan rose highest, but headed into the arms of Osinski.

It was nip and tuck now at this stage of the contest and when James O’Mullane knocked it down for Eoin Howell, he drilled wide from the edge of the box.

Roger Zapata had a half-chance for Mallow, but he rifled straight at Keith Timothy.

At the other end, an assist from Broderick came for Ian Lordan who fired an effort goalwards that was well held by Osinski.

But, it was all square again and what a goal it was – Zapata knocked it back for the unmarked Daniel Moloney who unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt that soared into the top corner on 44 minutes to send both sides into the break at honours even.

With just minutes into the second half, Grattan’s Anthony Byrne rose unmarked, but headed wide from Jake Murray’s corner.

Grattan were going through a period now where they held good possession and when Broderick steered wide from a cross, Anthony O’Callaghan got a touch near goal from Murray’s pass, but Osinski was in the right place to collect.

But what a chance fell for Mallow Town – Dylan McCarthy gathered good possession before releasing Ryan O’Sullivan who stole through on goal, but with the goalkeeper to beat, he rifled disappointingly wide.

Mallow were rewarded though for their Trojan work around the pitch when from Dylan McCarthy’s free kick, Jean Adjetey found the corner with a header on the hour.

Grattan were trying hard to get a rhythm going, but this lively Mallow side were having none of it and in fact extended their lead on 72 minutes when Adjetey got his second with a firm header from a cross while unmarked inside the box.

The League 3 side should have made it four, but when Mark Tobin found space inside the Grattan rearguard, he failed to beat Timothy with his dipping effort.

Grattan had no choice but to try and push forward now and despite Michael Kent pulling one back in the dying minutes, Mallow Town held on to record what was a memorable night for the club.

GRATTAN A: Keith Timothy, Morgan Griffin, Anthony Peelo, Anthony Byrne, Anthony O’Callaghan, Michael Kent, Aaron Broderick, Ian Lordan, Jake Murray, Christy Bullman, Gary Coughlan.

Subs: Anthony Harte for Morgan Griffin (69), David O’Sullivan for Aaron Broderick (77).

MALLOW TOWN: Artur Osinski, Ryan O’Sullivan, Aaron O’Flynn, Roger Zapata, Eoin Howell, James O’Mullane, Jean Adjetey, Daniel Moloney, Cian O’Callaghan, Dylan McCarthy and Bevis Nguenko.

Subs: Scott McCabe for James O’Mullane (half-time), Jean Adjetey for Eoin Howell (55), Etan Barry for Aaron O’Flynn (58), Mark Tobin for Dylan McCarthy (68).

Referee: Jim Hennessy.