Sheriff YC 4
Janesboro 1
SHERIFF YC WILL contest the FAI Junior Cup final, in association with Aviva and Umbro, for the fourth time in five years after sweeping past Janesboro on Sunday afternoon at Frank Cooke Park.
Although Aaron Nunan cancelled out Sheriff’s opener through Sean Murphy, Darren Dunne regained the lead before the break and the semi-final win was completed by two more strikes in the second half from Mark Higgins and John Rock.
The Dublin side march on to the decider on 14 May at the Aviva Stadium, where they’ll meet the victor from the other semi-final between St Peter’s of Athlone and Pike Rovers, which will be replayed on 20 April at Leah Victoria Park in Tullamore following Saturday night’s abandonment due to adverse weather.
All the early pressure came from Sheriff, with Rock and Higgins both coming close to finding the breakthrough inside the opening 10 minutes.
There was no surprise then as, on 16 minutes, Anto Kavanagh’s long ball was latched onto by Sean Murphy who needed just one touch to guide his shot beyond onrushing goalkeeper Stephen Walsh.
For all their dominance, Sheriff’s offside trap was prone to being breached and Nunan too full advantage two minutes later by slipping in undetected to tuck a diagonal shot beyond Lee Murphy from eight yards.
The excitement levels were maintained in an action-packed first half when the champions of 2012 and 2013 went back in front in the 25th minute. Kevin Lynch’s delightful deep free-kick from the right sailed all the way to Dunne at the back post and his close-range header made it 2-1.
Janesboro struggled to muster another comeback after the restart, with a shot from Aled Harkin that sliced well wide the best they fashioned.
Far more clinical were Sheriff who grabbed their third on 65 minutes. Sean Murphy’s cross was met by Rock, whose cutback was skillfully flicked into the net by Mark Higgins.
The Limerick side were unfortunate to see Shane Clarke’s header hacked off the line and they chased the game but they were hit by another swift Sheriff move for the fourth goal with two minutes left. Joe O’Neill fed substitute Thomas Dunne and his low drive was turned in by the alert Rock from close-range.
Sheriff YC: L Murphy; P Murphy, Kavanagh, O’Neill, Lynch; Lester; Sean Murphy (Larkin 89), O’Brien, D Dunne, Higgins (T Dunne 83); Rock (Glen 89).
Janesboro: Walsh; Boyle, T Clarke, Hurley (Lynch 83), O’Mara (McMarlow 73); Hogan (Waters 59), Bradley, Harkin, Nunan; S Clarke, Tierney.
Referee: John Dwane
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