Wanderers land a Premier knock-out in Beamish Cup

Everton 1-3 Cobh Wanderers.

The seniors advanced to the quarter final of the Beamish Cup with a comfortable enough victory over struggling Premier League side Everton today. The visitors took some of their chances in the first half to reach the break with a three goal lead and never reached the same heights in a dour but effective second half. Wanderers played down the slope in the first half and were quick out of the traps with Chubbs driving a shot wide after only two minutes. Two minutes later Mikey O’ Shea put across the first of his many well struck corners. The ball travelled all the way to the back post where Chubbs reacted with a side foot effort that went right across in front of goal and wide on the far side. Chubbs completed a hat-trick of near misses on seven minutes when Shane Geasley’s attempted shot deflected off a defender and into the his path with just the keeper to beat. He chipped the advancing keeper but the ball hit the crossbar and away to safety. On ten minutes Wanderers were awarded a rather dubious penalty for a foul on Geasley which looked like it took place just outside the corner of the box. Davin O’ Neill stepped up and crashed the spotter high to the keeper’s right and into the net for the lead.

Wanderers doubled their lead on 16 minutes when Brian Fitzgerald powered a brave diving header to the net from an O’ Shea corner. Some good interplay between Eoin Hastings and Chubbs ended with the latter skipping past a defender and deciding to pass rather than strike and the move broke down. Most of Wanderers good work in this first half stemmed from some quality ball out from the back, particularly from Gary Collins, and on forty minutes one of his long balls picked out Davin who was clear through on the keeper but ended with a hand ball by O’ Neill. Two minutes to the break Hastings made a break down the right and crossed to O’ Neill. O’ Neill flicked on to Geasley who was brave in side footing the ball past the onrushing keeper knowing he was going to be clattered in doing so. The ball crept over the line and Wanderers were three to the good.

The second half was an utterly forgettable affair with a couple of chances falling to Peter Nolan, smothered by the keeper and Shane Geasleys drive on the hour, well held by the Everton Keeper. The tide almost turned on 79 minutes when Everton were awarded a penalty against Collins which was never a foul, but justice was done when the spot kick was lashed off the crossbar. Everton did get on the score sheet with three minutes of normal time remaining when a deflected shot wrong footed Hallahan and ended up in the back of the net. Overall a good result and a fine display from Owen Kinsella who worked tirelessly in the midfield all game to defend and create for Wanderers. Mikey O Shea was at the hub of Wanderers creative endeavours and Shane Geasley worked his socks off up front in a great display of selflessness which contributed in no small way to the result of this cup tie. Bring on Blarney next week.

Team: Shane Hallahan, Eoin Hastings, Dave Stack, Gary Collins, Brian Fitzgerald, Peter Nolan(Tony O’ Donovan 82), Owen Kinsella, Mikey O’ Shea, Shane Geasley, Ian Stapleton, Davin O’ Neill(Shane Barrett 82).

Scorers: Davin O’ Neill (pen, 10mins), Brian Fitzgerald 16min, Shane Geasley 43min. Everton 87min.