*Brian Corry celebrates putting Bridge Utd in front. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
BRIDGE UTD produced a dominant display to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the Munster Junior Cup and eliminate Limerick outfit Pike Rovers.
Bridge Utd 3
Pike Rovers 0
Venue: Sixmilebridge
Having reached the last sixteen of the competition last year bowing out to eventual winners Coachford, Bridge Utd have gone one step further with their strong showing on Sunday securing a place in the quarter-finals of the provincial competition.
A fortnight earlier, Newmarket Celtic advanced to the quarter-finals with an exceptional display away to St Michael’s.
When it came to Bridge Utd’s turn to impress, they duly did and knocked out last year’s beaten finalists Pike Rovers, to see two sides from the county take their place among the last eight.
This win was fully earned by a Bridge Utd side brimming with energy and purpose. Pike on the other hand seemed off the pace, their starting eleven had an average age of 28, a figure brought down considerably by teenager Joe Murphy and particularly in defence they struggled with a lively opposing attack.
Early on, the hosts set the tempo, exerting their authority on proceedings, it was typified by a fair and hard hit by midfielder Kyle Kirby and then by Brian Corry putting his body on the line, taking a boot to the face but still powering forward with the ball before narrowly shooting wide. Both moments occurred in the first five minutes but sent a clear message, the Bridge meant business and they would not back down.
Their first major chance felt to Aidan Moloney who didn’t appear to realise the amount of time he had to head the ball and instead allowed Gary Neville to make an easy save with Corry and Filip Mostowy having combined well in the move.
Tensions were tetchy on occasion, ex Bridge Utd player Leon Daly received particular attention and it was little surprise to see him among the players cautioned by Brian Punch within the first half hour. Punch was on his toes throughout and even found himself on the floor in the last act of the half when he came out the wrong side of a collision with Steven McGann.
Full-back Scott Kirwan, the youngest member of the Pike defence by a considerable distance, was on hand to make a goal-line clearance to stop the effective Jack O’Halloran from breaking the deadlock, his intervention on seventeen minutes woke up his teammates somewhat. The Limerick side began to create just a few more attacks in the aftermath but Kirby’s tackling and well-timed interceptions from Liam Buckley stopped them making inroads.
Mark Culbert’s side deservedly went ahead with thirty five minutes played. Hard work again paid dividends, Corry had done well to force a throw on the right flank, Bridge worked the ball cross-field with Mostowy smartly holding up the play, left-full Lee Mulready came as the support runner but didn’t properly connect with his cross, it didn’t matter as Pike’s defence made a hames of clearing the ball, instead sending it into the sky and towards Corry’s path who calmly finished to the net.
They should have doubled their advantage before the break, Jack O’Halloran hit the post, his teammate Alan Mulready put too much faith in the winger’s strike and could easily have got a touch to the ball but instead watched it bounce off the post. O’Halloran in the previous attack had dazzled Edward O’Donovan before crossing the ball into the box.
On the hour mark, Pike came close to equalising, Joe Murphy managed to win what would be their first of two corners in succession but Bridge Utd dealt with the danger and the threat of a goal.
Instead of falling level, Bridge Utd went further ahead. Filip Mostowy doubled their advantage on seventy two minutes. Jack O’Halloran won a fifty fifty header with O’Donovan on the right flank from a Liam Buckley free, the ball was expertly kept in by Aidan Moloney but Pike headed the ball to a free Mostowy inside the box and he gladly tucked the ball to the bottom left corner of the net.
Pike’s task became much more difficult when they were reduced to ten men, centre-half Brendan O’Dwyer was dismissed, he was the last defender back and took Mostowy down prompting Punch to flash a red card. Scott Kirkland stepped up with the resulting free kick which bounced off the post and netminder Gary Neville then had to save from Brian Corry in the next attack.
Off the bench, Daniel Cullen made a big impact for the Limerick side, he turned players inside and out and came close to registering a goal but Alan Mulready was tuned in to stop his shot on the line with eighty one minutes on the clock.
Additional time saw Bridge Utd raid for the third goal. Kyle Kirby drove the ball out wide on the left to Caleb Lategan, he swung the ball into the box and poor tracking from Pike left Conor Henry on his own, he got a touch which was enough to send the ball to the back of the net.
Currently sitting third in the Limerick District League, ten points off the top with two games in hand, Pike’s performance on Saturday would suggest silverware may not be on the horizon this season. They were not a strong attacking presence and struggled to contain Bridge Utd on either wing. Ennis native McGann was an injury doubt before the tie and was restricted in his involvement but they lacked a creative spark to give hope at any stage in the contest. Cullen brought a bit of life from the bench but should have been introduced earlier.
With one of their performances of the season, Bridge Utd gave their home support plenty to cheer about. They didn’t shirk from any challenge and were keen to kick on outside of the county, following the disappointment of their fourth round exit to Coachford in Lees Rd last season. Brian Corry, Kyle Kirby, Liam Buckley, Filip Mostowy and Jack O’Halloran were most impressive for the winners.
Bridge Utd: John Mulready; Luc Fitzpatrick, Liam Buckley, Alan Mulready, Lee Mulready; Scott Kirkland; Jack O’Halloran, Kyle Kirby, Aidan Moloney, Filip Mostowy; Brian Corry.
Subs: Conor Henry for Corry (79), Dean Neary for Moloney (88), Caleb Lategan for Mostowy (91)
Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Scott Kirwan, Brendan O’Dwyer, Patrick Mullins, Edward O’Donovan; Kyle Duhig; Leon Daly, Steven McGann, Dylan Murphy; Joseph Murphy; Aaron Murphy.
Subs: Daniel Cullen for J Murphy (63), Robert Williams for Duhig (76),
Referee: Brian Punch
All photographs by Joe Buckley
