Superb victory for Parkvilla

Navan side Parkvilla scored a superb FAI u-17 Cup victory over top Dublin club Rivervelley Rangers at the MDL on Sunday. After absorbing a lot of pressure in the early stages of the game Parkvilla found a way through for a dramatic extra-time winner from Matthew Hand. It took some time for Parkvilla, who were facing into the wind, to get going, but after they repelled early attacks from Rivervalley they started to impose themselves on the game. Their first move of note came when Mickey Duke sent in a vicious volley that whizzed just over the bar. Ian Donnelly was just wide with a low drive while centre-half Chris Hand also got in on the act and he forced a smart save from the Rivervalley goalkeeper. After the resumption Parkvilla used the excellent surface to get their passing game going. Jamie Blake went on one of his powerful runs, only to be taken down just short of the penalty area. From the resultant free, Mickey Duke sent a dipping shot over the bar. With centre backs Hand and Cathal Kennedy imposing a vice-like grip on the Rivervalley front men, full-backs Jamie McGarry and Stephen Trappe were able to pick up a lot of possession and venture forward to set up attacks. Ciaran Flynn in the home goal didn't have a lot to do after the visitor's impressive opening spell, but he dealt confidently with anything that came his way. The Navan boys took firm control of the midfield sector, thanks in no small way to the unselfish efforts of Moyo Arowolo and James Boland, whose work rate was phenomenal. Duke displayed uncanny accuracy in his deliveries from the dead ball situations and one of these set pieces produced the winner. Arowolo and Blake, through sheer persistence retrieved a hopeless cause and were rewarded with a free kick wide on the right. Duke's cross found the head of Matthew Hand and his bullet-like header was a worthy winner of any match. This victory puts Gerry Kennedy's charges into the last 32 of the competition. Parkvilla - C Flynn; J McGarry, C Kennedy, C Hand, S Trappe, J Boland, M Hand, J Blake, M Arowola, M Duke, I Donnelly. Subs - I O'Brien for Arowolo, R Barratt for M Hand, M Hand for Donnelly. JUNIOR CUP Sandyhill Celtic 5 Parkvilla 0 Parkvilla's ambitions in the FAI Junior Cup ended when they shipped five goals against AUL Premier B leaders Sandyhill Celtic. At the break Parkvilla trailed 0-3 and they were always fighting an uphill battle. The Navan side were indebted to Niall Boland, who produced a handful of top-notch saves to help keep Sandyhill Celtic at bay. Gary Reilly, Larry Duke and Simon Dixon all went close to reducing the deficit. Best for a gallant Parkvilla team were Noel Eite, Andy Williamson, Jason McDonagh and Simon Dixon. Parkvilla - N Boland; J Coogan, A Williamson, N Eite, M Forry, C O'Callaghan, J McDonagh, G Reilly, J McDermott, S Dixon, L Duke. Darndale Rovers 2 Trim Celtic 1 Trim Celtic travelled to Dublin to take on top AUL side Darndale Rovers,but they ended up getting knocked out of the FAI Junior Cup. The Meath side were left wondering how they lost as they dominated the match with missed opportunities proving costly. David Conway and Keith Peppard went close for the Trim side before Darndale went ahead when Barry O'Callaghan, who had been spectacular up to then, lost his footing when trying to clear and a Darndale player scored. The second-half was all one-way traffic with Michael Corrigan, Aaron Newman, Paul Campbell, Derek Donohoe and Conway threatening. Darndale tagged on a second before Campbell headed home for what proved to be a Trim Celtic consolation. Corrigan, Campbell and Newman stood out for the Trim side. Trim Celtic - B O'Callaghan; R Fitzsimons, M Gillsenan, C Halton, K Jones, A Newman, M Corrigan, P Campbell, D Conway, D Donohoe, K Peppard. Subs - S Farrell for Peppard, D McGee for Halton, R Campbell for A Campbell. Ballymun Utd 7 Navan Town 0 Navan Town travelled up to the AUL Complex to take on Ballymun Utd but found the step up to a higher level of football too much to take in this FAI Junior Cup encounter. . Navan Town - J Galvin; C Ward, D Russell, D Dunne, S Coyle, P McGuinness, K Russell, L Russell, A Dowdall, Shane Smyth, K Duane. Subs - C Smyth for Shane Smyth, Simon Smith for L Russell, M Dowdall for Dowdall. Bellurgan 8 OMP Utd 3 Despite been reduced to 10 men for 75 minutes OMP put up a brave performance against Bellurgan's AUL side in this FAI Junior Cup game. The home side led 3-2 at the break with OMP netting through super strikes from Ross Clarke and Joey Rogers. It was 2-2 when the game took a decisive turn when OMP's Kevin Mallon picked two harsh yellow cards with the visitors right in contention up to that point. In the second-half OMP got caught out in defence as they pushed forward. OMP - J McCabe; D McElroy, D Morgan, J Rogers, E Donoghue, D Corcoran, Joey Rogers, B Carlton, A Carney, K Tansey, K Mallon. Subs - A Clarke for B Carlton, K Crosse for J Rogers. MDL O'NEILL SHIELD Bailieboro 4 Rathkenny 2 The concession of two penalties and other defensive lapses proved costly for under-strength Rathkenny in this O'Neill Shield tie in Bailieboro. Both spot-kicks came in quick succession and were converted as the home side led 2-0 at the break. An uphill climb got steeper for the visitors after Bailieboro scored again shortly after the restart. The home side were reduced to 10 men and Matthew Brien then pulled a goal back from a fine header. Bailieboro responded immediately with a fourth goal and while Brien found the target again with another header, Rathkenny never seriously threatened to make a game of it. Rathkenny - S McCabe; G Hickey, J Crosbie, M Brien, B Meade, S Cournane, I Lenehan, J Macken, M Macken, R Moore, T Rowan. Subs - P Moore for R Moore, S Lenehan for Cournane.