Search Results for 'Eric Reilly'

Neither Iorras Aontaithe nor Westport United took the easy road into the last 32 of the FAI Junior Cup last weekend. The two remaining Mayo sides in the competition were made to sweat it out right until the end, with Iorras having to endure the dreaded lottery of penalties to book their place in the next round. Indeed both sides had to come from behind in their games, Erris trailed Dublin Bus by 2-0 just before half time in their encounter in Carnenash.

Both Iorras Aontaithe and Westport United will be hoping that home advantage can give them a little bit extra on Sunday when they enter the FAI Junior Cup sixth round. Iorras Aontaithe will be hoping that they won’t be suffering any post Connacht Cup hangover from their elimination from the provincial cup at the hands of City United by a score of 3-1 last weekend.

It was a mixed weekend for Mayo sides in last weekend’s FAI Junior Cup, with Iorras Aontaithe breaking through to the seventh round of the cup after a five goal thriller, while Westport had to suffer the heartbreak of going out on penalties 8-7 to St Peter’s from Athlone after a 2-2 draw. Westport had to come back from going behind twice to keep the tie alive in what was an end to end contest. The unlucky man was Westport centre half Martin Geraghty whose effort failed to bustle the back of the net with the 15th spot kick of the shoot out.

Iorras Aontaithe 1

“Even when we play away in Mayo we have to travel an hour and half to most places, but this is a bit further all right.” Iorras Aontaithe manager Eric Reilly jested about his side’s trip down the country this weekend in the FAI Junior Cup, the 250 plus mile down from their home in Carne Nash to south Cork and their opponents Kinsale.

Iorras Aontaithe made the long trip home from the Old Head of Kinsale last Sunday evening in buoyant mood after seeing off the challenge of Kinsale in the seventh round of the FAI Junior Cup and booking their place in the last eight.

“It’s the waiting that’s the worst part, you are always looking forward to the next game after you win the last, but it’s been the waiting for the game that’s been the hardest thing.” Well the waiting is almost over for Iorras Aontaithe and their player/manager Eric Reilly as this Sunday they make the trip to Limerick to take on Fairview Rangers with a place in the last four of the FAI Junior Cup up for grabs.

Fairview Rangers 1

Fairview Rangers 1

There is not much to be said about Iorras Aontaithe’s run to the semi-final that hasn’t been said before. The north Mayo men who looked to be in free fall midway through the Super League season last summer, pulled themselves together in the home straight and pulled themselves clear of the relegation quagmire. Since then they have gone on to show the true quality that the Barony men possess, navigating eight rounds of the FAI Junior Cup to arrive in this Sunday’s semi-final. In a sort of homecoming Iorras will welcome Ballymun United to the home of Mayo soccer, Milebush, on Sunday with a place in the final up for grabs. For Iorras it offers them a chance to add an FAI Junior Cup to the FAI youths cup they won in 2005, and puts them up there with Westport United from 2006 as the only Mayo sides to bring home the national junior title.