They have reached the final in the last four years running. But on Friday night in Stradbrook Cork City came close to crashing out in the first round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup against Cabinteely. They won 5-4 on penalties after full and extra time had seen the sides finish level at 2-2. Kevin Knight and Rob Manley scored for Cabinteely with Conor McCarthy and Ronan Hurley scoring for Cork.
In each of those finals, they have of course faced Dundalk who are the current holders. A goal from Georgie Kelly was enough to give them a 1-0 win away against Cobh Ramblers in St. Colman’s Park. It was a round that produced no real shocks but a couple of close calls. With five minutes left in Dalymount Park, Bohemian FC trailed First Division leaders Shelbourne 2-0.
Ciaran Kilduff and Shane Farrell scoring for Shelbourne. However, Bohs came back to win 3-2. Keith Buckley scored the first with Daniel Grant then drawing the sides level. Daniel Mandroiu then scored the winner in stoppage time. In the only all-Premier Division clash Shamrock Rovers beat Finn Harps 1-0 in the Tallaght Stadium. Daniel Carr with the game’s only goal.
Sligo Rovers recorded the biggest winning margin of the first round as they beat non-league side Glebe North 8-0 in the Market Field in Balbriggan. David Cawley and Kris Twardek both scored a hat-trick while Dante Leverock and Regan Donelon got one apiece. For Rovers that win was their biggest ever in the competition. Their previous record had been set in 1937 when they had beaten Bohemian FC 6-1 in the Showgrounds.
Elsewhere Limerick beat Cobh Wanderers 1-0; Drogheda United saw off Cork non-league side Avondale United as they beat them 2-1; Derry City beat Wexford 1-0 and St. Patrick’s Athletic were 2-1 winners against Bray Wanderers in Richmond Park, David Webster and Glen McAuley with their goals. UCD beat Letterkenny Rovers 5-2 and Galway United won 2-1 away against Collinstown. Waterford FC are also through, they won 2-0 away to Maynooth University Town.
There are three non-league sides through to the second round. Lucan United beat Killester Donnycarney 2-1 in Celbridge Football Park. Marco Chindea and Aji Sule with their goals. Crumlin United beat Malahide United 3-1. Craig Walsh, Gareth Brady and Alan McGreal with their goals. Glengad United booked their place after an epic penalty shoot-out win against St. Michael’s AFC. It had finished 0-0 with Glengad winning 8-7 on penalties.
There is still one fixture outstanding as the meeting of Longford Town and Athlone Town was postponed due to inclement weather. The draw for the second round will be this evening.
