Byron Fitzgerald struck the only goal of this game on the hour mark – to continue his recent goalscoring purple patch, send his Mungret side into the semis, and rescue the few and the brave from the potential horror of twenty extra minutes.
First half
The first 45 minutes were something of a stalemate, to say the least – with the game’s first shot on target arriving only in the 43rd minute, courtesy of Barry Danaher.
Danaher led the line for Mungret tonight, in place of Keith McNicholas – whose injured quad rendered him fit enough only for the bench. The big target man was part of a front three that didn’t really click this evening – although Mungret had more of the ball in the first half, it was Summerville who looked the more threatening in the final third.
Prime mover in that regard was their number ten, Kuba Domanski – who Mungret allowed to go free between the lines on several occasions. Kuba took advantage of such freedom to create the game’s first real chance in the tenth minute. Joe Manahan’s tackle in the middle of the park resulted in the ball breaking free to Domanski, who had the space and time to pick out winger, Davie Nash, with a pinpoint crossfield ball. Nash found himself in behind left-back, Ian Moore, only to strike the outside of James Roche’s near post with his resulting effort.
Mungret created a half-chance of their own, moments later, when right-back, Daniel Clancy, very nearly provided us with a carbon copy of his goal in the previous round – running off Stephen Kiely, to get on the end of a Byron Fitzgerald through ball and sky it over the bar. Fitzgerald had an odd half – although he looked Mungret’s likeliest player to fashion a breakthrough, he also conceded possession far too easily on several occasions.
Second half
The stalemate was quickly broken when the teams reemerged for the second period – when Summerville left-back, Eoghan Ryan was correctly dismissed for a two-footed challenge on Byron Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was lucky to escape uninjured from what was a reckless challenge – but one free of violent intent.
It was doubly lucky for Mungret that Fitzgerald survived unscathed – as he finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Ger Burke played it to Danaher on the edge of the area, who turned and played Fitzgerald through to slot home past Ahern. What a signing Byron has been for Mungret – since he arrived from Regional last month, he has eight in all competitions, including two in his first two league appearances. Not bad from a player that I’ve long touted as one for the future.
Mungret continued to dominate possession, but with three centre-backs up against what was now a 4-4-1, they were unnecessarily light in terms of manpower in the attacking phase. At least the full-backs were more advanced anyway – Mungret should have doubled their advantage midway through the half, when Ian Moore’s cross was sliced wide by Clancy at the far post.
It was only when Summerville brought on Des Quinlivan and went 3-4-2 that the game really opened up for Mungret. Over the course of the last twenty minutes, they wasted a bucketload of chances on the break – with winger, Joe Kennedy, the most profligate among them.
Kennedy had struggled to get the better of former Wembley defender, Eoin O’Sullivan, since switching to the left early in the first half. With twenty to go, fortunes were reversed for once, however, resulting in a one-two between Kennedy and Fitzgerald – Ian Maher’s last man tackle foiled Kennedy before he could pull the trigger.
Then, with fifteen remaining, Mungret fashioned the first of many three-on-three breaks, leading to McNicholas crossing from the right and Kennedy heading over from point-blank range. And, moments later, the unmarked Kennedy finished another fast break by striking a left-footed effort just wide from the edge of the area. You began to wonder if Mungret were going to be made to pay for this.
And they very nearly were. With five to go, a simple ball over the top was misjudged by Brian Cotter, as he stretched to intercept – a rare error from the Mungret centre-back this evening. That slip allowed Darren O’Sullivan in for his first opportunity of the night. Alas, “Daz” had to reach behind him for the ball and his resulting shot was weak and straight at Roche – a real let-off for Mungret.
The chances kept on coming – and going – for the leaders, however. McNicholas somehow contrived to fail to connect with a Horgan cross, moments after that O’Sullivan chance. And then, in injury-time, another cross from Horgan – who featured well when moved to right-back for the last fifteen – was missed by Kennedy in the centre of the area, only to fall to substitute, Zagyi, at the far post. His point-blank effort was – surprise, surprise – saved by Ahern!
There was even time for one more flub. Ger Burke showed off some nice step-overs to beat O’Sullivan on the left, before squaring to the unmarked McNicholas in the box – straight at Ahern again!
Conclusion
Although Mungret had all the chances in the known universe after Summerville switched to three at the back, this game was far tighter than that – particularly prior to Eoghan Ryan’s 50th minute sending-off.
Although Mungret had the majority of the possession, they enjoyed it without looking in any way threatening prior to that point. Indeed, it was Summerville, primarily through number ten, Kuba Domanski, who looked to carry the greater threat.
However, Ryan’s departure obviously changed the complexion of the game massively. Once Mungret scored and Summerville felt compelled to take a risk with a 3-4-2, the game began to look very one-sided indeed in the victors’ favour. Luckily, from a Mungret perspective, those missed chances didn’t come back to bite.
Scorers
Fitzgerald 60′
Limerick District League 