Mervue Utd 2-0 Greenwood FC (Cork) (Cork) FAI Junior Cup Sixth Round

Mervue Utd's Juniors advanced to the last sixteen of the FAI Junior Cup following a 2-0 win over Cork side Greenwood FC at Fahy's Field on Saturday afternoon.

After a scoreless opening half were the home side dominated possession and created several good chances to open the scoring it took two late Barry Moran strikes to secure a safe passage into the last sixteen.

Against a resolute and well organised Greenwood side it was always going to be a tough tie and so it proved as the visitors defended in numbers to restrict the home side.

Steve Cunningham crossed for Simon Walsh on just four minutes but the winger struck his shot across the face of goals at the back post, while both Barry Moran and Seamie Crowe struck efforts off target in the opening quarter.

Cunningham's pace created problems for Greenwood on the right and his dangerous low cross failed to pick out a Mervue player, while another ball into the box found Tommy Walsh in an advanced position but his goal bound effort was brilliantly block away for a corner by a Greenwood defender as the half finished scoreless.

Simon Walsh went close on 65 minutes heading just over after sub Alan O'Donovan picked him out in the box after he had retrieved a cleared corner.

The deadlock was finally broken on 75 minutes after sustained pressure when Barry Moran broke into the box on the left and when his initial effort was cleared off the line he picked up the loose ball and produced a fantastic finish into the far corner to make it 1-0.

A goal down the visitors made a number of changes and began to throw bodies forward and looked dangerous from deadball situations but Mervue keeper Andrew Walsh never had to make a serious save throughout the game.

With time running out Shane Keogh released Moran through on the left and he did what he does best with another brilliant finish into the far corner to ensure the home side would be in the last sixteen draw.

The visitors almost grabbed a late consolation in injury time as Mervue defender Eric Browne smashed a clearance off his own crossbar for some late drama.