FAI Junior Cup Heartbreak for Buncrana as St Michael's progress

Buncrana Hearts’ FAI Cup odyssey came to a devastating end as 2019 winners St Michael’s of Tipperary just about edged out their Donegal hosts.  

Buncrana Hearts 0
St Michael’s (Tipperary) 1

As expected this was a close hard fought affair before a big crowd at Castle Park between two evenly matched sides. 

The visitors threatened first on nine minutes after  Quirke's dangerous cross was brilliantly headed clear by Paul McDermott. 

Buncrana responded in the 20th minute after great work by Kieran McDaid on the right saw his cross find Jamie McDaid who headed just over the bar. 

Midway through the half Michaels dangerman James Carr advanced on the left and his cross was poked just wide by Barbury. 

Buncrana’s best chance of the half came on 32 minutes when Sean Mullan raced onto a Calvin Gallagher through ball but saw his effort turned around the post by Walsh. 

On the stroke of half time Carr’s deflected cross was brilliantly saved by Rory Kelly in the Hearts goal with James Adair completing the clearance.  The visitors had the first chance of the second half when the impressive Quirke beat a couple of defenders but his effort was superbly saved by Kelly. 

Almost immediately at the other end a Mullan effort was parried by Walsh to Christopher McKinley  but he failed to get an effort on target. The key moment arrived in the 54th minute when a controversial penalty was awarded for a handball and the experienced Junior and Amateur international James Carr kept his composure to fire to Kellys left hand corner. 

Kelly then made a stunning save to deny Quirke on the hour mark  which signalled the home side’s best period of the game. On 67 minutes Adam Curran fed Mullan who beat his man but saw his effort crash back off the post. 

Then a Kieran McDaid corner came off the crossbar to Mullan who somehow blazed over from point blank range. The final chance came on 87 minutes when Mullan headed an Eoin Murphy cross just over with St Michaels glad to hear the final whistle and advance. 

For Gary Duffy and Buncrana it’s been a superb run in this prestigious competition and they return  to domestic action  still in the running for five trophies.