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Sat, Apr 29th FAI Int Cup Semi Final Replay: Blarney United 2,

Carrigaline United 1. O'Shea Park. KO 3:00pm.

BLARNEY UNITED will meet Avondale United in the Carlsberg FAI Intermediate Cup final after a hard fought replay win over Carrigaline at O’Shea Park on Saturday. It has been a meteoric rise to the top of non-league football for Blarney, who are only in their second season as a senior club and never in their wildest dreams would they have thought they’d reach the Intermediate Cup final in such a short space of time.  Daniel Corkery was the Blarney hero as his scrambled effort after 66 minutes settled the tie after a Danny Kelly penalty had brought Carrig level. Blarney were first to settle and attacked Carrigaline from the start and went in front after only 8 minutes. Dermot Crowley’s long throw wasn’t properly cleared by the Carrigaline defence and Steven Jennings’ first effort was only half cleared and when the ball dropped nicely for Jennings again, he made no mistake with his second effort, burying his volley high into the roof of the net from 15 yards. It was all Blarney in the opening stages and the impressive Ray O’Leary went close before the home side had a goal disallowed for offside midway through the first half. O’Leary volleyed over a cross-come-shot and Ruari Goggin headed home at the back post but the flag was up for what looked a marginal decision.

As the half drew to a close Carrigaline started to come more into the game, without troubling Paul Collins in the Blarney goal. Carrig started the second half the better but Blarney’s defensive pairing of John Hogan and Cormac Hayes always looked in control under the bombardment of Carrig’s long balls. However a rush of blood by Dermot Crowley after 63 minutes let Carrigaline back into the game. Aidan Murray picked the ball up in midfield and played Danny Kelly in for a run on goal, Kelly’s first touch took him away from goal but Crowley slid in and took Kelly’s feet from under him. Referee John Lyne showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Kelly dusted himself down and buried his spot-kick, low to Collins’ right. Carrig’s joy was short lived however as Blarney were back in front three minutes later. Again it was a long throw from Crowley that the Carrigaline defence failed to deal with and with the ball bobbling around on the edge of the six yard box, Corkery was there to force the ball home. Carrig pressed for another equaliser to force the game to extra-time but with Cormac Hayes superb at centre back Blarney always looked like hanging on, which they did to set up an all-Cork final with Avondale United at Turners Cross on May 14.

BLARNEY UNITED: Collins, Crowley, J Hogan, Hayes, P Hogan (Fitton 44), Moynihan (Healy 68), Corkery, O’Leary, Goggin (McCann 58), O’Sullivan, Jennings.

CARRIGALINE UNITED: Riordan, G McGovern, Delaney, Walker (O’Halloran 83), Harrington (Hooley 74), Murray, O’Shea, Gaffney, K McGovern, Kelly, Dennehy (Owens 68).

Courtesy: David Ludzik