Even Dunican Cannot Save Tullamore Town
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Esker Celtic 3 Tullamore Town 1.
TULLAMORE crashed out of the SFAI Cup in Lucan last Sunday when they were comprehensively beaten by an excellent Esker Celtic side.
The main feature of this cup tie was a remarkable display in goal by Patrick Dunican who brought off a series of superb saves to keep his side in the game.
With only ten minutes on the clock the home side hit the front when, in a quick breakaway, John Tamvwe slipped the ball inside to Jordan O'Connor who coolly slotted it into the bottom right hand corner.
As the visitors went in search of an equaliser Dylan Murray picked out John McEvoy but he shot wide while at the other end Dunican did well to keep out a Tamvwe effort down low to his right.
He was again called into action when he beat out a fine Hafeez Asiru shot and from the resultant corner Jordan Quinn blocked a goal bound effort and, as the ball broke back to Asiru in the area, Dunican made an extraordinary stop from point blank range.
As the pressure continued to mount Dunican cut out a dangerous Asiru cross and he was again called into action to keep out a swerving shot from O'Connor.
Tullamore struggled to get back in the game and were reduced to long range efforts from Terry Byrne and John McEvoy and they were lucky not to fall further behind when a clever back heel from Asiru was tipped around the post by Dunican as the interval arrived with the home side one goal to the good.
Tullamore were desperately unlucky not to get back in the game on the resumption when Terry Byrne played a great ball through to Eoghan Coffey in the inside left channel but his superb drive came crashing back off the underside of the crossbar and minutes later Coffey played in John McEvoy but his effort was blocked down low to his left by the Esker keeper.
As the home side hit back Patrick Dunican did brilliantly to keep out a Hafeez Asiru shot at his near post but Asiru was not to be denied on the hour when he latched onto a clearance and found the bottom left hand corner from twenty yards.
Within minutes Tullamore were back in the game when Ken Hogan won the ball and picked out Michael James on the right and his cross was swept home by Dylan Murray.
But the fight back was short lived as they conceded a free kick thirty yards out and Sean Cleary rifled the ball into the top right hand corner for a spectacular goal.
To their great credit Tullamore refused to lie down and they again went close when Jordan Quinn played in Eoghan Coffey but his fine effort was kept out by the Esker keeper and then, following a corner, Ken Hogan headed narrowly wide.
As they continued to press Gareth Byrne fired over from close range and then Dylan Murray just failed to get on the end of a fine Macdarragh O'Neill cross. But the home side finished the stronger and twice Patrick Dunican did brilliantly to deny John Tamvwe as Esker ran out deserved winners.
For the home side there were outstanding performances from Sean Cleary, Peter O'Connor, Hafeez Asiru and John Tamvwe while Gareth Byrne, Terry Byrne, Eoghan Coffey, Dylan Murray and Ken Hogan were the pick of the visitors but the man of the match award went to Tullamore's outstanding goalkeeper, Patrick Dunican.
Tullamore Town: Patrick Dunican; Gary Hutchinson, Adam Shelly, Jordan Quinn, Gareth Byrne, Michael James, Terry Byrne, Tom Touhy, Eoghan Coffey, Dylan Murray and John McEvoy. Subs: Ken Hogan, Macdarragh O'Neill, Thabiso Yona, Shane Martino, Aaron McDermott and David Geraghty.
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