Sweeney 50, Patten 71

FAI Intermediate Cup QF, Traigh-A-Locha - Sunday, January 21, 2001

HOW THEY REPORTED IT

Fanad fade Youghal's Cup dreams FANAD UNITED 2-0 YOUGHAL UNITED William Downing at Traigh-A-Locha Youghal United’s glittering FAI Cup run came to an end at wind-swept Traigh-A-Locha on the Fanad peninsula when Ulster Senior League leaders Fanad United came good in the second half to earn a hard-fought 2-0 victory in the Intermediate Cup quarter-finals. The visitors enjoyed the best of a sporting first half, gaining the upper hand early on thanks in no small part to an occasional gust blowing in from Lough Swilly – behind the Youghal goal - towards the Atlantic end being defended by the Donegal outfit. That breeze gave the visiting David Kearns a chance to introduce a flavour of the Copacabana to north Donegal on ten minutes, seeing his corner-kick curl viciously, then bounce off the crossbar. Youghal captain Barry Goggin came close also, with an early drive that was blocked en route to goal, while Damien Hennessy and Alan Healy also had chances in an opening quarter during which Fanad were clearly the second-best side. The only other real moment of danger for either side arrived seven minutes later, when Fanad’s ever-busy Dara Patten cracked a ferocious low drive across Youghal keeper Kieran Fleming’s goalmouth, which the visiting custodian did well to hold. Healy however was given a magnificent opportunity to test the Donegal defence when he ran onto a lengthy through-ball, but the springy surface at Ireland’s northernmost sporting venue took it away from him. It was his last significant contribution to the game though. He failed to reappear for the second half after suffering concussion just before half-time. In truth, the defences were firmly on top during an opening 45 minutes which – according to local journalists – had provided Fanad’s biggest test at home all season. But with both sides coming out all fired up for the second half, the opening minute after the restart provided a portent of what was to come, with another stinging drive off the woodwork followed swiftly by the game’s first booking. Patten had proved a relative handful for the Munster Senior League outfit during the first half, but had his danger absorbed effectively. The young winger did come into more in the second half, mainly due to the more open state of affairs after the game resumed. Hence, it only took him 45 seconds after the restart to cannon a snap-shot off the bar – not his first, nor would it be his last. The other sign that the second period would be a much more different beast from the first was the opening yellow card of the match, dispatched by referee David Wogan to Fanad midfielder Arthur Lynch – the first of seven yellow cards and one red that marked a tempestuous second half. The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second half, with FAI Intermediate Player of the Year finalist Shane Sweeney cracking a superb 25-yard free-kick in off Fleming’s right-hand post – another indication that the up-and-coming defender is bound for a level of football above the USL. Within four minutes, Sweeney could have made it two from another free-kick – a similar situation to that which produced the goal – but this time, the accuracy was not of the same quality. Urged on by the bulk of a 400 crowd, Fanad began to turn the screw, but still had to survive a number of heart-stopping moments from a resolute Youghal United, particularly when a useful ball sprayed forward by visiting skipper Barry Goggin released Shane Corcoran, who drilled wide. With troublesome midfielder Martin McAteer having another free-kick pushed over by Fleming, the home support could have been justified in feeling they were edging closer to a second. They were right. Having come close on a number of occasions earlier on, Dara Patten finally came good with twenty minutes remaining. The Fanad winger nipped in to crack home a snap-shot from the edge of the area to all but clinch their spot in the semi-finals of a competition they had won twice previously, in 1988 and 1994. From there, it got untidy, and when Stephen Kiely received his second yellow card for a challenge on Arthur Lynch just as he was firing a wide effort from the halfway line, it instantly put Youghal a man down as well as two goals down. However, referee Wogan had missed the incident, needing to consult linesman Paul Duddy over the challenge, and while the man on the line had spotted the original challenge, he seemingly failed to notice a punch directed at Kiely by the previously yellow-carded Lynch while both were picking themselves off the deck. The appearance of just one red card sparked a skirmish that lasted five minutes, but in which no other cards were brandished. From there, Fanad held on to their two goal advantage, booking themselves a spot in the last four alongside Cork side Rockmount, Waterford United’s Cup conquerors five years ago next month Wayside Celtic, and the winners of the Dublin Bus-Ashtown Villa replay. The Northerners will certainly fancy their chances of a spot in the March decider, particularly if they get a home draw in the last four. Youghal United can hold their heads high, though, despite bowing out of the competition. Their progress this season under manager Davey O’Brien and assistants ‘Scobie’ Heaphy and Luke Flavin has been nothing short of remarkable, qualifying for the second round of the FAI Cup and establishing themselves among the eight top non-league sides in the country. However, the bulk of a tricky Munster Senior league campaign still has to be negotiated, along with a Munster Senior Cup clash away to Blarney, meaning what has been a spectacular season to date for the Ardrath Park outfit still has a long way to run. FANAD UNITED – G Patton, K Gorman, S Sweeney, J Doherty, D Deery, P Friel (sub B Gallagher, 78), D Gallagher, A Lynch (sub P McBride 82), M McAteer, S Barrett (sub R Kavanagh 84), D Patton. YOUGHAL UNITED – K Fleming, S Kiely, D Hennessy, D Murphy, A Horgan, D Kearns, B Goggin, S Corcoran, S Forrest, A Healy (inj, sub P O’Driscoll 45), D Coleman (sub A Whyte 71). Referee – David Wogan (Donegal)