Annacotty Trounce Drinagh in Munster Junior Cup

Aisling Annacotty enjoyed a comfortable home victory in the Munster Junior Cup as they defeated Drinagh Rangers of Cork 5-0 on Sunday afternoon thanks to goals from Aaron Murphy (x3), Shane Tracy and Nathan O’Callaghan.

The home side were afforded plenty of space and possession and they punished their opponents in the first 15 minutes as a superbly waited through ball from Shane Tracy found Paudie Walsh who squared the ball for Aaron Murphy to finish into an empty net.

Goalkeeper Brian O’Connor mis-judged a corner delivery and Drinagh captain Barry O’Driscoll hit the post. Moments later, Annacotty doubled their lead as Tracy buried a free-kick into the bottom corner.

Midfielder Brendan O’Dwyer came close with a long range drive which travelled just wide of the post.

Five minutes before half time, the lead was extended as O’Dwyer’s corner was aimed for the late arrival of Nathan O’Callaghan which produced one of the goals of the season against Ballynanty earlier this season but O’Callaghan miscued and Murphy was on hand to acrobatically finish to the net.

As we awaited the half-time whistle, it got worse for Drinagh when Nathan O’Callaghan tucked the ball home from close range.

Annacotty made a raft of changes at half time but it was one of the first half’s instrumemtal performers Shane Tracy, who forced Oldham into a smart save.

The visitors went close to pulling a goal back when Thomas Clarke’s header was blocked down by Tomas Connolly and the striker’s lob rebounded off the crossbar.

However, normal service was resumed when Mike Aherne’s side added a fifth as Conor Coughlan cut the ball back from the byline for Aaron Murphy to neatly finish and complete his hattrick.

As the game was over as a contest, the clear-cut chances were few and far between for both sides and Annacotty will now face either Regional United or Coachford in the quarter-final of the competition.