Penalty hero Doyle sends Fiacc’s into next round
Scott Roycroft (St. Fiacc's) fires in a shot at the Bagenalstown goal.
Craig Doyle was the shootout hero for St. Fiacc’s on Sunday morning, making two saves to send his side through to the next round of the Douglas Jewellers Carlow Cup on Sunday morning, despite some controversy surrounding the shootout.
Referee Mick Murphy appeared to make an error during the penalties; having counted wrong, he called for sudden death after the five penalties for both sides, believing that the score was 3-3. However, after a swarm of players and management surrounded him, he corrected himself and ended the game.
This was Bagenalstown’s third shootout loss this season having already lost to Crettyard in the FAI Junior Cup and St. Pat’s in the Shield.
Bagenalstown were coming into the game off the back of a huge 4-0 defeat over Crettyard in the league and closing the gap to New Oak to just four points, whilst Fiacc’s got a crucial point in their pursuit of Premier Division safety as they held New Oak to a 1-1 draw.
Both sides were coming into the game struggling with injuries and absentees. Robbie Kane in particular was a huge loss for Bagenalstown who struggled to create opportunities for striker Charlie Nolan. Kane has been a huge part of the Bagenalstown team since he came back in January and has been scoring and getting assists.
For Fiacc’s, Dylan Murphy was a big loss as they struggled to put away chances.
It was a tough game to watch with neither side really getting into the game, it was a tough battle in difficult conditions, with the wind causing havoc on a pitch that is known to bobble.
Fiacc’s took the lead early on and looked in control of the first half, creating opportunities but not being able to put them away. Bagenalstown struggled early on and were poor in the first half in particular. They grew into the game in the second half, but still found opportunities hard to come by.
It was all Fiacc’s early on, Aaron Dorgan, son of manager Pete, attempted a shot from distance but it drifted just wide on the left whilst Harry Walker’s effort from distance was saved.
Fiacc’s took the lead after 17 minutes as Dorgan broke into space down the right wing just inside the box and as Sean Treacy was caught off his line trying to deal with the danger, Dorgan laid off a cross to the back post where Jack Byrne was waiting to guide the ball into the back of the net with ease.
Captain for the day in the absence of Bob Mulholland was Ricky Lawler, who went down midway through the half and was replaced by veteran center half Bobby Dowling.
It was he who was at fault for Bagenalstown levelling the game. He failed to clear a ball in the box and hit it straight to Nathan Curran who had a simple tap in.
As Bagenalstown grew into the game, the chances dried up and it was a war of attrition almost in the second half.
Shortly after the hour mark, Roycroft slid an effort from the right across the box whilst Byrne hit the post from the left. Bagenalstown went close with 20 minutes to go as a long ball was played in behind for Charlie Nolan who was sliding in but he just couldn’t reach.
In the dying moments, 39-year-old Brian O’Rourke almost won the game for the Town as he curled in an effort goalwards, but Craig Doyle was alert between the sticks and saved with his feet to deny the goal.
Luke Murphy and Harry Walker had efforts saved in extra-time, but with no separating the sides after 110 minutes, the game would have to be decided from the spot.
The usually reliable Cian Doyle, who came off the bench and was struggling with an injury, put his effort wide on the left to give St. Fiacc’s an early advantage as Dowling converted his shot.
Fenagh Footballer Padraig Hynes and McCullagh both saw their efforts saved by Doyle in the Fiacc’s goal. However, John O’Shea and Byrne both saw their efforts saved by Sean Treacy as Fiacc’s held a slight advantage going into the final penalty for each side.
Aedan Byrne levelled things up for the Town meaning it was all down to Dorgan who calmly dispatched his penalty to win the game and send St. Fiacc’s safely through to the next round.
Sean Treacy, James Hickey, Aedan Byrne, Andrew Kane, Padraig Hynes, Eoghan Dowling, Jack McCullagh, Roy O'Neill, Charlie Nolan, Nathan Curran, Thomas Bolger.
Conor Lennon, Neil Martin, Brian O’Rourke, James Cushen, Cian Doyle, Matty Curran.
Craig Doyle, Mikee Horohan, Jake Haughney, Ricky Lawler, Aidan Bradley, Eoin White, Scott Roycroft, Harry Walker, Jack Byrne, Aaron Dorgan, John O’Shea.
Bobby Dowling, Leo Hurley, Jamie Parr, Luke Murphy, Alex Donnelly-Finn, Lee Byrne.
Mick Murphy.
