Bridge Utd have qualified for the last four of the FAI Youths Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
Bridge Utd 4
St Mary’s 2
Venue: St Mary’s Park, Kilcully
They recorded an away victory in Cork on Saturday to seal their place in the semi-finals. It follows impressive victories over Salthill Devon and College Corinthians earlier in the competition.
St Mary’s nudged in front on thirteen minutes through Conor Doherty but within the same duration of time, the visitors were back on level terms with Leon Daly hitting the back of the net. Before half-time, the Sixmilebridge side took the lead when Liam Buckley converted a penalty won by Thabiso Dube.
Ronan Murphy equalised for the hosts on sixty minutes but they later found themselves reduced to ten men when a red card was brandished by Ian O’Keeffe. It wasn’t all plain sailing for Bridge as captain Kyle Walker was forced off with a shoulder injury.
A free kick from Scott Kirkland put Bridge Utd back in front on 78 minutes, the strike from the Clare Youths was followed by a Thabiso Dube goal on 85 five minutes, the midfielder had been involved in setting up two of their goals over the course of the game.
Their reward is a home semi-final against Cork outfit Doughlas Hall AFC. This weekend in the Munster Youths Cup, they take on Ballingarry in Co Limerick with the winner advancing to the provincial final.
Bridge Utd: Will Fitzpatrick, Leon Kelly, Storm Devanney, Liam Buckley, Luke Shea, Thabiso Dube, Scott Kirkland, Kyle Walker, Dylan Downes, Leon Daly, Conor Maxwell
Subs: Michael Carey for Walker (inj), Ferdia O’Lionain for Downes, Evan O’Callaghan for Daly, James Egan for Kelly
Referee: Ian O`Keeffe
