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FAI Junior Cup

Ballynanty and St Michael’s book Aviva final on day of FAI Junior drama

Goalkeeper Steven McNamara saved three penalties to see Limerick side Ballynanty past Collinstown of Dublin.

BRIAN DORAN SCORED a dramatic sudden-death penalty to fire Limerick’s Ballynanty Rovers into the final of the FAI Junior Cup with victory over Collinstown FC.

The midfielder saw his strike go in off the palm of Ross Costigan to send the sizeable Ballynanty contingent into raptures at a buzzing Jackman Park in Limerick.

Ballynanty keeper Steven McNamara, who had already been named man of the match after an incredible triple save in normal time, kept out three spot-kicks, including one he acrobatically tipped on to the bar.

It was tough on Dublin’s Collinstown who looked much stronger in the first half and took the lead on 32 minutes when livewire striker Anto McCormack raced on to a breaking ball to outpace the Ballynanty defence and lift the ball over the advancing McNamara.

Ballynanty’s threats came mainly from set-pieces and, after a throw-in had caused hesitation in the Collinstown defence on 75 minutes, David Dunphy arrived to prod home and send the tie into extra-time.

The first six penalties in the shoot-out were scored before McNamara and Doran made the decisive contributions to help their side to a 5-4 win.

Ballynanty will meet St Michael’s in the final in the Aviva Stadium on 25 May before the senior international side take on Turkey in a friendly.

The Tipperary side overcame defending champions Sheriff YC after a turgid encounter that looked certain to be heading towards extra-time and penalties before Brian Buckley’s winner six minutes from time.

The full-back pounced on a slip in the Sheriff defence to lob keeper Peter Halpin in what was the game’s only real moment of class.

That was the signal for Sheriff to completely lose their heads.

First, right-back Paul Murphy was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on winger Jimmy Carr.

Then Anthony Kavanagh picked up a second yellow card in the 90th minute for a late challenge on the same player. That prompted a minor scuffle with the centre-back re-entering the field to exchange words with Carr before eventually leaving for the dressing room.

Down to nine players, Sheriff had a half chance in the last minute but Anthony Kane could only fire over to leave St Michael’s looking forward to an all-Munster final in May and a chance to win the cup for the first time since 1974.

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