Lillis double sees Bagenalstown into Round 3
Bagenalstown's double goal-scoring John Lillis.
Bagenalstown have qualified for round 3 of the LFA Youths Cup as John Lillis came off the bench to score two goals to help his side come from behind to beat Wexford Bohs.
Going into the game on the back of two defeats from two in the league, Bagenalstown were going to be up against it, but put in a big shift in the second half in particular to leave McGrath Park with the win.
Wexford Bohs started off strongest and created the majority of the attacks in the first half of a seriously tight game. A long throw-in led to an early save for Jake McAssey in the Bagenalstown goal who did well to deny the visitors.
A free from the left caused problems but it was eventually cleared by the Carlow side. The best of the early chances for the hosts fell to Aidan Hickey, but his free from the halfway line was cleared.
With quarter of an hour gone, a cross from the right was played into Dean O’Sullivan but the Wexford Bohs goalkeeper stole the ball before the Bagenalstown man could get his shot away.
Six minutes later, a Hickey free was played in and missed everybody with TJ Geoghegan hitting it over the ‘keeper, only to see it cleared off the line by Harry Maher.
There was a huge moment in the 25th minute when a Dean O’Sullivan bicycle kick threatened to create a memorable moment for Bagenalstown, but his shot drifted wide on the right.
Wexford went close through a Riain Morris effort which was palmed away and the resulting corner from the right from Maciej Stypula needed to then be cleared at the back post.
John Lillis went close from the left but hit his effort across the box. A free for the hosts from the right wing was cleared with ten minutes to go and just moments later Bagenalstown thought they had scored when Ryan Walsh headed the ball into the back of the net, only to be pulled back for offside.
An O’Sullivan effort from the right was hit across the box just before the break.
But there was still time left on the clock and Wexford used it well as Dominik Raguckas fired an effort into the bottom right hand corner to give his side the lead.
A free in stoppage time from Bagenalstown full back Daithi Roche was struck from halfway before David Reddy got a flick inside the box, only to see the ball drift wide.
That left the visitors 1-0 up at half time and deservedly so.
But Bagenalstown wasted no time in pulling level. With only four minutes gone in the second half, Roche whipped in a corner from the right which was brilliantly headed home by Lillis in the middle.
Maciej Stipula led the charge as Wexford tried to get back in front, going close with a free and causing problems for the Carlow side with dangerous crosses and a corner that almost led to a goal.
A Roche free at the other end was cleared, but with just 15 minutes to go, Bagenalstown took the lead for the first time.
A free was sent into the box where Lillis got on the end of it, just like the earlier corner, to power the ball home.
With seven minutes to go, a Wexford Bohs free from the right was deflected into the ‘keeper and two minutes later a Danny Travers effort for Bagenalstown was hit into the ‘keeper as both shot-stoppers had to be on their toes.
In stoppage time, a Wexford Bohs free from the right was hit wide as they gave Bagenalstown a scare at the death, but the Carlow side held on and now advance to the third round.
Jake McAssey, Daithi Roche, Niall Power, Andrew Hickey. Paul Carroll, Dean O’Sullivan, Daniel Brennann, David Reddy, Matthew Stratton, Ryan Walsh, TJ Geoghegan.
Danny Travers, Ryan Dunne, Jason Salter, John Lillis, Rory O’Brien.
Jack Jelskar, Michael Tinashe, Aaron Downes, Harry Maher, David Brophy, Cian Morris, Maciej Stipula, Leon Donogue, Jonathan Lyamu, Kristaps Konrads, Noah Bashem.
Adam Furlong, Dominik Raguckas, Jake Maher, Ryan Byrne, Jack Kane, Conor Byrne.
Mick Murphy.
