Fanad United prevail in dramatic shootout to reach FAI Junior Cup quarter-finals

In the end, penalties seemed the fairest way to decide this battle. Both teams gave it their all and neither team deserved to lose it, in what was an extremely sporting encounter in Traigh-a-Loch.

By the time Jack Deegan kicked the last shot of the day, it was euphoria for the Fanad United men who prevailed 4-3 on penalties and advance to the last eight of the FAI Junior Cup for the first time since 1972.

Eoin Logue, Daibhid Lynch, Seamus Friel, and Eddie O'Reilly were all on target, while Darren McElwaine, unfortunately, had his shot saved, but Mark McConigley was once again the hero to deny two Tramore shots and keep Fanad's journey in the national competition on course.

Fanad’s first real chance came 15 minutes into the match when Liam McGrenaghan fired in a high free kick on top of the Tramore box resulting in the bounce of the ball to hit off the foot of Carlos O’Reilly, but Gavin Buckley was quick to react and push the ball out for a corner. 

Tramore was playing the advantage of a strong breeze but that didn’t stop Fanad for placing a high press and creating chances in the process. Paddy Carr did well to bypass two Tramore defenders and play it along to Eddie O’Reilly and set up Carlos O’Reilly with an opportunity, but the Waterford men stayed strong battering away any threat on goal. 

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Fanad looked the better side as they plugged away, creating chance after chance. Darren McElwaine came close in breaking the deadlock, but his effort slid across the goalmouth, with Buckley again on hand to palm out for a corner, but Carlos O’Reilly was unable to convert from the corner as it remained 0-0 after 30 minutes. 

Fanad needed to capitalise before half-time while they were on top but the Tramore goalkeeper and defenders remained strong, especially with the strong running presence from the home side, especially Eoin Logue.  

Team captain for the day James Gallagher had the opportunity from a headed effort from a corner, but just didn’t have enough strength as it was easily handled by the Tramore ‘keeper. 

There was a call for a penalty when Carlos O’Reilly was pushed inside the box on the stroke of half-time, but the effort was waved away. 

Tramore were playing second fiddle at this point but nearly took the lead in injury time when Cian Flanagan nailed in a floating effort only for Seamus Friel to head to safety for a corner which ended with Ben Daly shooting to the net, but Mark McConigley got low to pull off a super save, leaving it level at the break. 

Carlos O'Reilly skimmed the top of the post as he fired from outside of the box, which was the first chance of the second half as Fanad remained on top.

Tramore were starting to find their feet and get their chances however, substitute Lee Kavanagh crossed in a super ball from the edge of the box on the right side which Conor Butler nearly put away, but his miskicked effort fell left of the post.

Kavanagh was making a big impact since his entrance at half-time, he glided past Liam McGrenaghan to set up Dara O'Brien with a perfect opportunity but he just mistimed his effort as it fell wide.

Ben Daly came close on the hour mark when he shot on the edge of the box towards an open net after McConigley came out to punch away a Waterford effort, but was unable to connect as the away side started to hit their purple patch.

Tramore were looking dangerous, but Seamus Friel was on hand on two occasions to avert the danger from Kavanagh and O'Brien. Then came the penalty for the away side on the 68th minute, when Keelin McElwaine was deemed to have slid in on Michael Brennan, but Mark McConigley pulled off an extraordinary save against Tom Carney to keep his side in the match.

Tramore nearly found that all-important goal 10 minutes from the end when Charlie Binnions hammered the ball towards the net but was just inches from making it 1-0 after Conor Butler found himself free inside to cross it to his Tramore teammate.

O'Brien was looking dangerous too as Fanad were chasing shadows but McConigley was keeping his team in the match. But Eddie O'Reilly nearly hit the winner with five minutes to go but was just inches away from the goalmouth as we entered crunch time in what was an exciting affair.

The referee played six minutes of injury-time as Fanad struck for a winner with three corners on the trot, but couldn't get that winner as the game headed for extra-time.

Neither team were looking to give much away as the match entered extra-time. The only real chance in the first period came from Tramore substitute Sam Sheppard who fired from distance but just went wide of the post as the side stayed level going into the final 10 minutes.

Fanad started brightly in the last 10 minutes with Eoin Logue setting up Eddie O'Reilly with a mighty opportunity to break the deadlock, but Tramore remained solid, sending the ball out for a corner. 

Darren McElwaine had one more opportunity when he struck from a free kick with the wind, but it just sailed too high and over the bar, while after 110 minutes of open play, the match finished in penalties.

Logue, Daibhid Lynch, and Seamus Friel struck home first with ease for Fanad, while Brennan was on target for the away men, but McConigley was again on hand to stop Conor Butler's effort to make it 3-1.

Darren McElwaine hit it straight at Buckley, while Kavanagh and Binnions levelled the shootout at 3-3, before Eddie O'Reilly slotted it into the corner, while McConigley pulled off another save in the shootout to deny Jack Deegan and win it for the home side who advance now to the last eight of the FAI Junior Cup.

Fanad United: Mark McConigley; Keelin McElwaine, Liam McGrenaghan (Daibhid Lynch, 74), Seamus Friel, James Gallagher; Carlos O’Reilly (Martin McElhinney, 86), Peter Carr (Paddy McGinley, 78), Paddy Carr (Adam Carr, 103), Eoin Logue; Darren McElwaine, Eddie O’Reilly. 

Tramore AFC: Gavin Buckley; Ben Daly, Tom Carney (Conor McGough, 97), Jack Deegan, Conor Signorelli; Charlie Binnions, Cian Flanagan (Lee Kavanagh, HT), Jack Ahern, Michael Brennan; Conor Butler, Dara O’Brien (Sam Sheppard, 93). 

Referee: Warren Harvey