For the second time in 4 games, and just the third time all season, Johnstown kept a clean sheet as they saw off Division 2 challengers Baileborough Celtic in their Tully Cup Quarter Final tie 3-0 at the MDL on Friday night.
The gulf in talent between the 2 sides was apparent from the off. The home side could and perhaps should have been 3 up inside the opening 10 minutes.
Kacper Zeberek, looking back to his best, took possession on half way in the second minute and proceeded to dance his way through the opposition, leaving Baileborough chasing shadows. As he bore down on goal, the keeper advanced. Zeberek’s low shot was well saved by the keeper legs.
The next opportunity, less than 3 minutes later, saw Dan Halligan and Arnold Luco combine well on the left but the latter’s shot could only find the keeper’s midriff. Halligan was again involved in Johnstown’s next chance as he crossed to Zeberek in the area but he could only steer his effort over the bar.
Just shy of the quarter hour mark, a poor delivery by Challenger from a corner on their left was almost converted as Jay Colton caught it on the half volley at the near post, only to watch it come back off the base of that same post.
And the chances kept coming. Zeberek, Luco, Aaron Mooney, Halligan, and Josh Gaffney all went close and kept the Baileborough keeper busy.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Jay Colton rose highest in the Baileborough area and met a Sean Challenger corner perfectly with his head. Having seen an earlier chance come back of the woodwork, Colton knew it would not be his night, as on this occasion his downward header was gathered gratefully by the custodian low at his feet.
Shortly after, Baileborough almost punished Johnstown’s profligacy in front of goal. In a rare venture upfield, the men from Cavan crossed from the right. With his back to goal, an improvised overhead kick dropped over the bar. It was to be the only chance the Johnstown back four, consisting of McQuillan, Colton, Connolly and Gaffney, were to concede in the match.
Finally the breakthrough came on the stroke of half-time. Sean Challenger released Luco down the left. The front man powered his way into the area before hitting a low hard cross towards the near post. Having played his part in creating a number of chances earlier, this time it was Halligan’s turn to be on the end of the move as he showed how to finish it off with a neat flick into the net ensuring Johnstown went into the break with a deserved lead.
The second half saw the one-way traffic continue. An earlier chance fell to Mooney but once again the visiting custodian was on hand to keep his side in the game.
Johnstown did not have to wait too long for the second. Again, a fine ball from Challenger set Luco free before he set the ball for Zeberek to make 2-0.
With an hour gone, Luco raced clear after Dave Grumley won the ball in midfield. Having missed a couple of earlier chances, Luco made amends and slotted away his side’s 3rd of the evening.
10 minutes later it was nearly 4-0. Second half substitute Vinny Murphy scooped a pass high over the Baileborough back line to Luco who caught it on the volley which produced a remarkable double save from the keeper, first when he saved the initial shot and second as he athletically clawed the ball back from the line.
Despite their first half dominance continuing throughout the second half, Johnstown were not as incisive and did not create as many chances but they were more clinical. At the back, Johnstown were solid and never looked likely to let the visitors back in the game, leaving Dylan Byrne a virtual spectator for the 90 minutes.
Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, J. Gaffney, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), J. Connolly, D. Grumley, S. Challenger, K. Zeberek, A. Mooney, D. Halligan, A. Luco
Subs: V. Murphy for Challenger, D. Bollard for Connolly, W. Cahill for Halligan, J. Flynn for Zeberek, C. O’Sullivan for Mooney.
