Bandon started this game well after a break of
almost Seven weeks since their last game. They moved the ball quickly and were
fast to react when in possession
After 15 minutes Bandon had created some great goal
scoring opportunities but missed on each occasion.
However the breakthrough came after their
persistence paid off through some great play in Midfield from Ivan Burke &
Peter Murphy.
A great crossfield ball from Peter Murphy sent
Philip Crowley up the right wing and after his cross was sent towards goal by
Andrew Moynihan it was finished to the net by O'Donovan after the Passage Keeper
saved but could not hold on to it.
The back line were defending well after a few good
breaks by the visitors but the hero of the first goal became the villain when a
Passage cross into the Bandon area was accidentally handled by Philip
Crowley.
Bandon Keeper dived the right way and got a hand to
the resultant penalty but the ball went beneath him to tie the game at One all
going in to the break.
After the break Bandon got a better grip on the
game and took the game to Passage. From a corner Ten minutes into the half
Brendan Cullen rose to send the ball to the back of the net. Peter Murphy
started to take control of midfield and delivered some great passes to the
hardworking O'Donovan, Crowley & Sugrue. One such pass sent Andrew Moynihan
clear of the Passage backline and he was cool to place the ball wide of the
oncoming keeper and in off the far post to make it Three goals to one for the
home side.
Bandon's Fourth came soon after a series of great
shots and even better saves from the Passage Keeper. A saved shot from O'Donovan
fell to the incoming Mark Sugrue and he sent a thunderous shot to the back of
the net.
Bandon were well in control for the remainder of
the game and although they moved the ball well could not add to the
scoreline, running out worthy winners at Four goals to One.
Man of the Match was Peter Murphy who won some
great possession and tormented the Passage midfield and Defence with his runs
and precision passing.
Team: Pat Kirby, Pat Murphy, Shane McCarthy, Aidan
Coffey, Brendan Cullen, Philip Crowley(Jamie Crowley 60 Min.), Ivan Burke(Mark
O'Driscoll 65 Min.) Peter Murphy, Mark Sugrue, Andrew Moynihan(Damien Galvin 70
Min.) Ethan O'Donovan
SAT. 26/10
BANDON 3 AVONDALE UTD 1
Bandon came into this National Cup tie with a full strength squad and were playing well only to find themselves a goal down after 20 mins when Avondale broke quickly from a defensive position to earn a corner and the ball was headed home from the resulting kick.This did not deter Bandon and keeping to their game plan, continued to press forward in search of an equaliser. This came after a long kick out from Kirby broke on the edge of the opposition 18 yard box, PhilipCrowley got a touch to it and found O’Donovan who expertly turned his opponent and sent a thunderous shot into the top corner of the net.Bandon settled after this and had some good passages of play with the Avondale keeper pulling off some good saves to keep his team in the game. Bandon eventually took the lead when a great cross field ball from PeterMurphy found PhilipCrowley on the right wing. Crowley raced down the line and sent in a low cross to find O’Donovan on the end of it to finish to the net for his second of the game. Bandon ended the half deserved leaders at 2 goals to 1.
Avondale pushed early in the second half for their equaliser but Kirby in goal pulled off some top class saves and ably assisted by his back four of PatMurphy, BrendanCullen, AidanCoffey & ShaneMcCarthy, they cancelled out any chance of them getting back in the game. Bandon added to their tally 25 mins into the second half. Again a long kick out by Kirby was not defended and when the ball broke PhilipCrowley had slipped inside the defence and with only the keeper to beat he made no mistakes to make it 3 goals to 1. Bandon were unlucky not to make it 4 when a good run down the left wing by JamieCrowley resulted in a corner. MarkSugrue swung in the kick to find JamesHayes who with a spectacular overhead kick narrowly missed the mark.
Bandon ran out winners with 3 goals to 1 and now face Glounthaune United in the next round. Man of the Match was PhilipCrowley who’s work rate throughout was rewarded when he scored one and assisted in the other 2 goals.
Both teams started this game well with some stout defending and a few dangerous breaks which could have yielded either team a deserved lead. Approx 25 mins into the half Philip Crowley pushed a neat ball over the Passage defence into the path of Peter Murphy and with the goal keeper indecisive in coming for the ball Murphy coolly headed the ball over him into the empty goal. Bandon had a few more chances with some great passages of play between EthanO’Donovan, PhilipCrowley, JamieCrowley & PeterMurphy.
In the second half Passage came out strongly to equal the tie but it was to no avail as the Bandon backline of Cullen, Coffey, Murphy & McCarthy held fast and dealt swiftly with every challenge to their defence. Again PeterMurphy and PhilipCrowley linked up well to cross a lovely ball to the awaiting JamieCrowley at the far post and he made no mistake in slotting the ball past the Passage keeper.
With the central midfield pairing of James Hayes & Ivan Burke battling well in breaking down the Passage attacks towards the final 10 mins of play, Bandon’s keeper Pat Kirby unleashed a tremendous kick into the opposition 18 yard box where Philip Crowley latched onto the breaking ball and pushed it neatly inside the far post giving the Passage keeper no chance. The final score of Bandon 3 – Passage 0 leaves Bandon on top of the table with 3 wins out of 3. Man of the Match was Bandon’s JamieCrowley who made some terrific runs at the Passage defence and was a constant threat throughout the entire game.
