Grattan United move past Waterloo in FAI Junior Cup
AUL Photos The Grattan United A side that had a 2-1 victory over Waterloo FC in the first round of the FAI Junior Cup at Rockmount FC's Astro.
Goals from Daniel O’Donoghue and Christy Bullman helped Grattan A reach the second round of the FAI Junior Cup after a hard-fought victory over Waterloo at Rockmount FC’s Astro facility.
It was a tightly contested match that saw plenty of individual battles going on around the pitch, but Grattan ultimately shaded it in the end.
The first chance of note arrived after just four minutes for the Loo, but from a cross, Jack Homan headed wide while unattended inside the box.
But, it was Grattan who nosed in front when Daniel O’Donoghue won possession outside the box before firing past an out-of-position Waterloo keeper on 15 minutes.
O’Donoghue was in action again minutes later – this time making Conor O’Regan work to save from his free kick.
At the other end, Fionn Hall got a header to Ronan O’Brien’s free kick, but had not enough on it to trouble Keith Timothy.
Grattan doubled their advantage when Anthony Byrne headed on to Christy Bullman, who produced a sublime finish to the top corner on the half-hour.
Then, when Ronan O’Brien’s free kick came back off the wall, he hoisted the rebound into the path of Lorcan Cremin, but Keith Timothy charged off his line in time to make a crucial interception before Kyle Higgins tried one from distance that sailed over at the other end.
A half-chance then fell for Grattan, but from Daniel O’Donoghue’s corner, Christy Bullman rose highest to glance his header wide.
Some improvised build-up play from Grattan followed when Danny O’Donoghue played it neatly to Christy Bullman on the inside but his plan to reach Evan Lynch Hornibrook was obstructed by a timely intervention by Fionn Hall.
Minutes later, Kyle Higgins’ effort from 25 yards out had Conor O’Regan collecting at the second time of asking.
The final action in a busy first 45 minutes saw Keith Timothy collecting from a fizzing low effort by Ronan O’Brien.
Waterloo emerged for the second half with renewed force and a great chance fell for them when Ronan O’Brien’s free kick reached the unmarked Kevin Cremin, but the striker headed disappointingly wide of the target before Ronan O’Brien was unlucky to see his cracking effort flash agonisingly wide of the post.
Then, from Ronan O’Brien’s corner, Jack Homan headed wide while unmarked.
But, despite that, the woodwork came to the Loo’s rescue when Evan Lynch Hornibrook saw his forceful effort, thump off the bar before being cleared to safety.
And when James O’Sullivan drilled a decent effort wide, he set up Evan Lynch Hornibrook to rifle an angled effort off a defender for a corner.
Grattan were in the ascendancy now and when Evan Lynch Hornibrook collected from Christy Bullman, he forced Conor O’Regan into making a good save with a well-struck effort.
Bullman threatened himself next when he turned his marker before striking an effort narrowly wide.
The Loo threatened after that, but after making good progress down the left flank, Ronan O’Brien’s final delivery into the box was just too high for the available David Cremin.
Waterloo got themselves back into the fight when they pegged one back – following good work by Ronan O’Brien on the left flank, Sam Kelleher showed subtle control before turning his marker to produce a majestic finish to the top corner with eight minutes to go.
The Loo now had the bit between their teeth, throwing everything forward in search of an equaliser and a decent effort from Dylan Murphy skidded off Anthony O’Callaghan’s head for a corner.
But, in the end, a resilient Grattan held on to book their ticket in the second round of the FAI Junior Cup.
Conor O’Regan, Shane Aherne, Dylan Murphy, Fionn Hall, Lorcan Cremin, Jack Homan, Sean Browne, David Cremin, Kevin Cremin, Ronan O’Brien, Liam O’Leary.
Sam Kelleher for Liam O’Leary (half-time), PJ Farrissey for Shane Aherne (62).
Keith Timothy, Michael Kent, Jamie Gardiner, Anthony Byrne, Anthony O’Callaghan, David Curtin, Kyle Higgins, Daniel O’Donoghue, Evan Lynch Hornibrook, James O’Sullivan and Christy Bullman.
Anthony Harte for Evan Lynch Hornibrook (79), Jamie Cotter for Christy Bullman (87), Dean Murray for David Curtin (90).
Paul O’Sullivan.
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