Commanding Park crush Rovers
Park Utd A 5 Rathcoole Rovers A 1
Park Utd's Darren O'Grady, Eamon O'Connor and Eamon O'Sullivan defend a Rathcoole Rvs corners at Brigown Park on Saturday last Credit: PICTURE: SEAN BURKE
WITH a commanding preformance Park Utd's A side saw off the challenge of Rathcoole Rovers A in the sescond round of Murphy's AOH Cup at Brigown Park on Saturday last.
Three goals in the first half and another two in the second — and it could have been more — saw Park finish easing up as the challenge from the visitors died away as the scores mounted.
Park's Eamon O'Sullivan got the rout under way with two goals in the first ten minutes of the game. His first came after he stooped low to head home from a cross and, on ten minutes, he latched on to a long kick-out and finished by slotting the ball home beneath the advancing keeper.
Rathcoole got one back on 20 minutes.... However, Ger O'Neill restored the advantage on the half hour mark when he got firmly on the end of a long cross from Gary O'Connor to make it 3-1.
It could have been all sewn up five minutes later after the advancing O'Connor was upended in the box. However, Willie O'Brien's well-struck penalty was equally well saved by the Rathcoole keeper.
Eamon O'Sullivan was twice denied his hat-trick minutes before half time when, after gaining possession in the box but possibly dwelling too long on the ball, both his efforts were cleared off the line in quick succession.
Still, the Mitchelstown side went in at the break 31 up and in control of the tie.
Fifteen minutes after the restart they stretched their lead again when Tony Graham shot into the roof of the net after his initial effort had been blocked. Ten minutes later Ger O'Neill wrapped up the scoring when he latched on to a through ball and rounded the keeper before slotting the ball home. After that manager Dave O'Connor introduced three substitutes for Park but by then Duhallow side rarely threatened and it ended an emphatic 5-1.
