Adam Kilker. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
ADAM Kilker struck the all-important goal to send Tulla Utd through to the third round of the FAI Junior Cup.
Tulla Utd 1
St Ita’s 0
Venue: TUS Astro, Limerick
Kilker’s strike has set up a home tie with Fern Celtic in the FAI Junior Cup which the East Clare side will be overwhelming favourites to prevail in.
In tough weather conditions, Tulla Utd were back in the grounds of TUS as opposed to The Cragg In Tulla.
Though not as familiar a setting as The Cragg for Mike Moloney’s side, TUS is becoming a happy hunting ground and it is the second time they have utilised the Moylish campus to ensure the weather does not stop one of their games from proceeding.
That determination to keep going was evident on the field of play too in allowing Tulla seal their spot in the third round of the national competition.
They had to be patient and persistent with the only goal of the game arriving on sixty nine minutes via midfielder Adam Kilker. Indeed the defensive midfielder has been one of their most consistent players this season and he showed his ability once again through his composure on the ball and of course the decisive goal.
Kilker took one touch before firing to the net from twenty five yards out after Fiacha Hale and Frankie O’Sullivan combined to create the opportunity. Earlier in the game, both Jack McSweeney and Ayoub Aguerram had chances to put them ahead but missed which left the sides level at half time.
More familiar with playing on the left wing, Éanna Culloo was in goals for Tulla Utd as both Simon Kilker and Gearoid Austin were sidelined with injury. He left Limerick with a clean sheet but his loss out the field allied with that of Ian Macnamara takes away strong attacking options up the field.
Still Tulla managed to do the business in their absence and they only introduced the talented trio of Daragh Corry, Dan Withycombe and Seán Withycombe from the bench.
Tulla Utd: Éanna Culloo; Fiachra Hale, Adam McNamara, Dara Ryan, Billy McNamara; Adam O’Sullivan, Frankie O’Sullivan, Jack McSweeney, Ayoub Aguerram, Darragh Baker, Callum Casey.
Subs: Dan Withycombe for Baker (59), Daragh Corry for McSweeney (59), Seán Withycombe for Casey (78), Fionn Ryan for O’Sullivan (93).
St Ita’s: Sean Richards; Ben Mulcahy, Jack Brennan, Damien Brouder, Peter Mulcahy, Dylan Kelly, TJ Kelly, Eamonn Carmody, Jack Long, Paul Fitzmaurice, Ciarán Dore.
Subs: Tony McCarthy for Fitzmaurice (55), Seán Curtin for Carmody (60), Gavin Reidy for Kelly (80).
