Our Senior Premier side progressed in the Nivea Cup but exited the FAI Junior cup on successive weekends on the Clubhouse pitch.
First up was the game against Ballina Town in the FAI Junior Cup. It turned out to be a hard fought game. The Saints went ahead through Aaron Cameron early in the second half. A quick free kick by Stephen McCormack out to Graham Lynch whose shot whistled across the area and found Cameron 15 yards out, Aaron chested the ball down before drilling it into the net.
Ballina equalised with a quick throw in over the defence and the Ballina forward made no mistake from inside the area. The Saints missed a couple of chances to win the game and found themselves facing extra time.
Within a minute of extra time the Saints scored again, a cross by Cameron having beaten the offside trap, was met at the back post by Eoin McHale who headed it back across for Gary Mahony to score.
Within 5 minute Ballina were level again when their forward turned well on the edge of the area and struck a fierce shot that keeper, Ian Doran was unable to keep out. It was looking like penalties and with just 30 seconds left Ballina struck to break the Saints hearts and win the game 3-2.
Better luck was had in the Nivea Cup the following week when the Saints played Premier B side, Green Park.
Despite going a goal down after a terrific volley from inside the area, the Saints upped the tempo and equalised through a Stephen Higgins free kick from 25 yards.
The Saints were playing the better football and it paid off early in the second half when a cross from the left found Mick Kinsella in the area. He took it on his chest before firing it home to make the score 2-1.
Green Park threw all they had to get the equaliser but to no avail. The Saints were unlucky not to score with just minutes remaining when a shot from Declan Hickey was parried by the keeper and Gary Mahony saw both his strikes cleared off the line.
The Saints held out to progress to the next round of the cup.
Squad: Ian Doran, Matt Gannon, Graham Lynch, Johnny Carroll, Stephen Higgins, Declan O’Hara, Paul McMillen, Gary Mahony, Karl O’Sullivan, Keith McDermott, Aaron Cameron, Connor Dillon, Eoin McHale, Declan Hickey, Stephen McCormack, Mick Kinsella, Keith O’Hanlon, Stephen Scanlon, Eric Kenny
Seniors Race Night
The Senior Section are holding a Race Night in the Comet (downstairs) on Friday, 8th Feb at 8.30pm. All proceeds will go towards the Player Injury Fund so please do your best to get along and have some fun on the night. Horses and jockeys can be sponsored so contact the clubhouse for details.
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