Corkbeg advanced to the next round of the Munster Junior Cup with a fine win away to Los Zarcos in Millstreet on Sunday morning. In truth, it was a game that Corkbeg should have won by more, despite a decent challenge by a side that were ranked three divisions below them.
After the long journey from Whitegate to Millstreet on a bright Sunday morning, Corkbeg were sluggish to begin with and the home side had a few chances early on. But, after that Corkbeg got a foothold and began to play their passing game. Corkbeg had plenty of chances to take the lead, but the home sides goal lead a charmed life.
Dylan O Neill had a volley that went narrowly over the crossbar and Chris Smith had a header brilliantly saved by the Los Zarcos goalkeeper. Keelan Kennedy, Ryan O Regan and Daragh O Mahony all had great chances to give Corkbeg the lead, while Alan Hogan had a goal harshly ruled out for offside. Somehow, it was goalless at the break.
Corkbeg goalkeeper Ray Savage had to be at his best early in the second half, as he finger-tipped away a curling shot that looked destined for the top corner. More Corkbeg pressure followed and finally the deadlock was broken on the hour, when a Los Zarcos defender turned the ball into his own net following a great run by Alan Hogan.
Corkbeg doubled their lead on 70 minutes, when Kieron Murphys free kick found it’s way through the Los Zarcos wall to make it 2-0. Daragh O Mahony was denied by another brilliant save a few minutes later.
And then, a flurry of goals. The home side threatened a grandstand finish, when their substitute headed home from a free kick with only 12 minutes remaining. But four minutes later, a great ball from Max Ahern was converted by Keelan Kennedy to finish the game as a contest.
Two more goals followed quickly; man of the match Daragh O Mahony passed for Tariq Tynan to volley home to the net and with two minutes left on the clock, Tariq grabbed his second from a Ryan O Regan pass to make it 5-1.
In injury time, Tariq looked to have completed his hat-trick with a fantastic header, but it was bizarrely ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. But, five goals was a great return from a tough trip to Millstreet, as Corkbeg advanced to the next round.
Team: R. Savage, K. Murphy, A. Horgan, C. Cotter, C. Smith, K. Kennedy, D. O Neill, D. O Mahony, R. O Regan, J. O Hanlon, A. Hogan. Subs: M. Ahern for A. Hogan(60mins), T. Tynan for J. O Hanlon(70mins), S.Bennett for D. O Neill(80mins), C. Horgan, D. Hickman.