Photograph: Natasha Barton
Avenue United’s dream of FAI Junior Cup success this season ended this Saturday afternoon when they bowed out after a penalty shootout.
Colga FC 1 Avenue United 1
(won 3-1 on penalties)
The Ennis side have reason to be very disappointed with the outcome as they failed to capitalise on a number of good chances in the final quarter while they failed to score in the penalty shoot out.
In addition they had the advantage of an extra player for the second period of extra time after Colga’s Liam Corcoran picked up a second yellow card which led to his dismissal.
The current Clare league and cup champions will also be disappointed at the manner in which they conceded a goal to Colga, just a minute after they had taken the lead.
There will also be some disappointment with some decisions by referee Pat Conlon particularly in relation to time. He could have allowed more at the end of normal time while he blew the final whistle a minute short in the second period of extra time.
Avenue were forced into a late change as Conor Mullen picked up an injury in the warm up while midway through the opening half they lost Mark Roche to injury.
The sides were evenly matched throughout the opening half which ended scoreless. The visitors came close to opening the scoring in the tenth minute but Colga goalkeeper Mark Greaney came to the rescue with a superb save from a Mossy Hehir flick.
Shortly before half time a free from Colga’s Joe Gaughan rebounded off the crossbar and Avenue were fortunate to escape without conceding.
The referee produced three yellow cards in the opening five minutes of the second half with Colga’s Liam Heffernan and Calum Brown and Avenue’s Stephen Jordan the players penalised.
Sixteen minutes into the half Elias Kunz rounded off a great Avenue move when he shot to the corner of the net to give his side the lead.
Avenue fans were still celebrating when the home side struck back and the Avenue defence must take some of the blame as hesitancy on their part allowed Colga through for a goal from Boris Ajong which will go down as being of the ‘soft’ variety. This score helped the eventual winners regain their composure after the Avenue score.
To their credit Avenue dominated the exchanges from here to the final whistle but they failed to capitalise on three great chances, Ronan Kerin, Kunz and Nnabuike Nneji all had chances but they failed to hit the target.
There were few chances in extra time and at the end of the first period Colga were reduced to ten men when Liam Corcoran saw yellow for the second time.
Despite their best efforts Avenue failed to capitalise on the extra man advantage and the tie ended, nine minutes into the second period, at 1-1.
Avenue were first up in the penalty shoot out and the writing wass on the wall for them when Ronan Kerin’s effort was saved. Neil Greaney put Colga in front.
Nna saw his effort saved before Gary Ford doubled the Galway side’s lead.
Avenue captain Dylan Casey saw his effort superbly saved by Colga hero, Mark Greaney before Colga captain Peter Greaney sealed his side’s place in the quarter finals.
Colga FC: Mark Graney; Liam Corcoran, Conal Harkin, Jack O’Neill, Caluym Brown Mike Donoghue, Peter Greaney, Joe Gaughan. Neil Greaney. Ben Lawlor, Boris Ajong.
Subs: Cian Greaney for Gaughan and Colm McDonagh (both 80 minutes); Gary Ford for Brown (Half time in extra time);
Avenue United; Tom O’Brien, Cullen McCabe. Conor Hehir, Jamie Roche, Dylan Casey (Captain), Eoghan Thynne Mark Roche, Nnabuike Nness, Ronan Kerin Tomas Hehir, Elias Kunz;
Subs: Stephen Jordan for M. Roche (inj., 25)); Philip Talty for M. Hehir (80); Calum Barrett for Kunz(extra time); Dylan Barry for Jordan (second half of extra time).
Referee; Pat Conlon: Linesmen-Martin Hatchett and Adam Burke(all from the combined counties)
