Usher Celtic edge out Oliver Bond to book FAI Junior Cup date with Fairview Rangers
Credit: Michael P Ryan (ETPhotos)
Usher Celtic will face Fairview Rangers of Limerick in the final of the FAI Junior Cup next month after edging out local rivals Oliver Bond Celtic 3-2 in Whitehall.
Calvin Douglas struck a spectacular winner nine minutes from time after the Major Sunday leaders had twice been pegged back by a dogged Oliver Bond side.
A peak of more than 1,800 people tuned into the second half Striker Online's Facebook stream of the game, which was played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 regulations.
The Islandbridge side led as early as the 14th minute in scrappy fashion as winger Tony Grouse found the decisive finish from close range.
A half-cleared free-kick from the left was volleyed goalwards by Douglas and Grouse was on hand to turn it into an empty net as Oliver Bond’s shouts of offside were ignored.
Oliver Bond deservedly levelled four minutes before the break as Sean McManus won the ball in midfield and the Major 1 Sunday side got forward in numbers.
Overlapping full-back Sean Gannon lobbed a cross deep past the back post and it was nodded back across goal by captain Jimmy McHugh and into the bottom corner.
Gannon turned from hero to villain seven minutes into the second half when he hesitated on a clearance in his own box and Wayne Walker picked his pocket before picking his spot in the net.
Dublin's Usher Celtic will face Limerick's Fairview Rangers in the final of the FAI Junior Cup next month after edging out local rivals Oliver Bond Celtic 3-2.
— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) August 23, 2020
Once again, though, Oliver Bond roared back and they levelled with 25 minutes remaining thanks to some tidy footwork from Willo McAdams.
The former St Patrick’s Athletic youth had a lot to do when he picked the ball up in the six-yard box but he skillfully rolled the ball around a mound of bodies before stabbing home.
McHugh had a glorious chance to put his side in front for the first time as he broke through on goal from Malone’s through-ball but he overran the ball and Jake Carey got down to save.
It was to prove a costly mistake as Usher led within 90 seconds, Jordan Buckley pulling back for Douglas, who planted a perfectly-struck shot in the top corner.
Usher will face Fairview Rangers at a venue to be determined on September 13th after the Limerick side beat Athenry on penalties on Saturday afternoon.
St Mochta's lifted the FAI Intermediate Cup for the first time on Saturday following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Killester Donnycarney in Tallaght.
Second-half goals from Karl Somers and Denis Somers won it for Mochta's after Stephen Chambers had put Killester ahead (read Andrew Dempsey's report here).
