Heads best: Grannagh’s John Purcell contests a header with Ferrybank’s Brian Mallon.
Ferrybank 3; Grannagh 0
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Ferrybank easily won this local derby game on Saturday night at the Village Grounds at Abbeylands. A lot was expected from the contest but the Premier League outfit had too much firepower for the Division 1A side.
When Jono O’Byrne gave Ferrybank the lead the result was never in any real doubt. Ferrybank had an easy game in the last stage also against Valley Rangers so they will expect a much tougher outing in the next round.
On a perfect playing surface, the victors took the game to Grannagh from the opening whistle and on 10 minutes Brian Mallon rose unchallenged to meet a Ian Mullally left-wing delivery but the striker failed to trouble former Ferrybank netminder Sean Phelan in the visitors’ goal.
Shane Mallon picked out Colm Roche with an exquisite pass on 21 minutes, but despite getting the better of defender Jamie Carroll, the Ferrybank left-winger blazed over the crossbar when he should have hit the target.
It was clear that the home side were up for this game as they gave their opponents no time on the ball and less than six minutes later Shane Mallon set up Jono O’Byrne with a neat pass; however the midfielder was off-target with a left-footed shot from 16 yards.
O’Byrne did give his side the advantage on 35 minutes after Colm Roche had done superbly well down the right channel; when he crossed for his midfield partner, he placed a delightful right-footed shot past the despairing dive of keeper Sean Phelan.
