Pike Rovers made an agonising exit from the FAI Junior Cup on penalties yesterday as Sheriff won 5-4 on penalties despite being down to 10 men for the majority of the game.
Pike hit the front through a Paddy O’Malley free kick which the keeper carried over the line. Sheriff then had Pat Oglesby red-carded.
The Pike team that lost to Sheriff YC on penalties
Sheriff earned a penalty before half time but John Lester’s effort was saved. Moments later a Darren Dunne header drew them level. The Dublin side took the lead through a Leon Hayes shot but that was cancelled out by O’Malley’s second of the game for Pike.
Extra time didn’t separate the sides and a shootout would decide the tie. Steven McGann was the unlucky man to miss for Mick Sheil’s side. It was a desperately frustrating evening for the Limerick side who had aspirations of bettering last year’s final defeat.
SHERIFF GO THROUGH ON PENS AGAINSHERIFF YC 2-2 PIKE ROVERS SHERIFF WIN 5-4 ON PENALTIESHow many times have we seen it? Sheriff in a big FAI Junior Cup game going down to ten, going to spot-kicks where Lee Murphy saves one and belts home his own and YC go through. Talk about Deja Vu!It wasn’t looking too good for the 2017 champs when after a Paddy O’Malley free gave Pike Rovers the lead, Sheriff had Pat Oglesby red-carded. The goal was controversial in that O’Malley’s free-kick was stopped by Lee Murphy and he seemed to have been bundled over the line but held the ball on the right side but Mark Houlihan gave the goal.Just before the break Sheriff were awArded a penalty that John Lester failed to convert but shortly afterwards Darren ‘Wacker’ Dunne, from a throw on the right, arrived at the far stick to head Sheriff level at the break.In the second half Leon Hayes put YC in front when he cut inside from the right and smacked an unstoppable effort to the top left-hand corner from full 35 yards.O’Malley though brought it to extra-time and indeed might have won it for Pike but Murphy denied him with the last kick of the 90.Extra-time failed to produce a winner and so it was on to pens again. Murphy dived to his right to save the first and Stephen Murphy, Leon Hayes, Bisto Flood, Lee Murphy and Marsey Maher all converted to send Sheriff through to the last 16 in breathtaking fashion.@Sheriff YC Pike Rovers FC Dennis Cruise Terry Cassin FAIreland Athletic Union League Dublin – Official Video By Terry Healy
