Mervue Utd 6-3 Galway Hibernians (FAI Junior Cup 4th Round)

The club's Junior A team advanced to the fifth round of the FAI Junior Cup for the first time in a number of years after a hard earned 6-3 win over Galway Hibs at Fahy's Field on Sunday morning.

Gary O'Connor and Ger McGrath's side got off to a flying start when Eoin Conncannon scored the opening goal after Hibs keeper, Paul Hickey, failed to hold Tommy Walsh's effort after just nine minutes.

Both Barry Moran and Steve Cunningham had efforts well saved by Hickey around the 20 minute mark before the visitors drew level after some poor home defending.

Keith McHugh left his header back short and Jason McDonagh slipped a lovely ball into Keith Ward and he made no mistake lobbing the stranded Brian O'Donoghue for 1-1 on 21 minutes.

McHugh made up for his mistake ten minutes later when he restored the home side's lead when powerfully heading home Dara Ryan's corner kick into the top corner for 2-1.

It should have been 3-1 two minutes later when another excellent move saw Barry Moran cross which Dara Ryan dummied to Concannon and with just Hickey to beat he blasted wide of the mark. 

The home side continued to knock the ball around confidently and increased their lead to 3-1 when Stephen Larkin brilliantly overhead kicked Shane Keogh's corner delivery into the top of the net on 38 minutes.

Hibs reduced it back to the minimum six minutes after the break when more slack defending allow Keith Ward slip a ball over the defence for Jason McDonagh to run onto and confidently beat Brian O'Donoghue for 3-2.

Dara Ryan had an effort pushed over the crossbar by Hickey ten minutes later as Mervue looked to regain a two goal advantage, while Hickey denied McHugh a second goal as he saved his header at the near post on 65 minutes.

That lead was doubled 13 minutes from time when Barry Moran headed past Hickey following another excellent delivery from Shane Keogh's free-kick.

Two minutes later and Moran turned provider as he squared the ball to Steve Cunningham and he slotted the ball into the corner for 5-2 on 79 minutes. Hibs reduced it back to 5-3 when referee Danny Corbett awarded them a penalty after Ollie Keogh went down in the box and Keith Ward made no mistake in converting.

Barry Moran though had the last say as he brilliantly curled a cracking effort over Hickey in the 90th minute for a final score of 6-3 as Mervue march on to the national open draw.

Mervue Utd; B O'Donoghue, D Dowling, S Keogh, T Walsh, K McHugh (E Browne 83); S Cunningham, D McWalter, S Larkin (S Walsh 59), E Concannon (D Tuck 59); B Moran, D Ryan.

Galway Hibs; P Hickey, S Gallagher, E Brown (O Keogh 59), B Griffin, K Fitzpatrick; J McDonagh, K Ward, D McDonagh (C Sherlock 83), D Carter, D Smith (P Ward 83), G Canavan.

Referee: Danny Corbett