Fairview advanced to the second round of the Munster Junior Cup at the expense of Janesboro at Pearse Stadium on Sunday morning. Goals in each half from Daragh Rainsford (pen) and James Fitzgerald provided Jason Purcell with the win.
Fairivew started brightly and centre-back John Mullane saw a close range effort blocked on the line as the home side scrambled to clear. Arron Nunan’s strike from distance was gathered by Wall in the Fairview goal as ‘Boro responded.
The visitors were awarded a penalty when Jason Cross needlessly found himself too tight to Ross Mann and proceeded to foul the dangerous striker. Daragh Rainsford buried the penalty into the bottom corner despite the best efforts of Tommy Holland.
Eddie Byrnes and Evan Lynch in action (Janesboro vs Fairview 22/09/19)
Holland did manage to deny his former Limerick FC teammate when Ross Mann crossed for the winger but Holland blocked the effort with his feet. Nunan cut an isolated figure against both Mark Slattery and Mullane on occasion but managed to get free on the right to curl an effort over the crossbar.
Shane O’Hanlon’s side came extremely close to an equaliser when a ferocious strike from Ger Barry from the edge of the area flew just over the bar.
Fairview dangerman Ross Mann was released down the left before teeing up Eddie Byrnes at the edge of the box but the winger blasted high and wide.
It looked as though boyhood Fairview man and current team captain Jeffrey Judge had doubled the lead but Holland superbly got down to palm away his low shot.
Moments later, Janesboro were incenced when they believed Evan Cusack was taken down in the penalty area but the referee waved away the protests. Fairview substitute James Fitzgerald did get the vital second goal for Purcell’s side with a superb half volley from 20 yards out which gave Holland no chance.
As time ran out, the Pearse Stadium outfit struggled to muster any real opportunities save for a few scrambles in the box and Holland was forced into saves from Judge and Fitzgerald as the Fairgreen side looked to put a seal on the victory.
It was a big win for the Fairgreen outfit and a disappointing result for a new look Janesboro side who have now lost the services of Tyrique Leamy to Kilfrush Crusaders.
Janesboro: Tommy Holland, Frankie Herr (Vincent Browne), Jason Cross, Lee O’Mara, Evan Lynch, Aidan Hurley, Ger Barry, Declan Cusack, Evan Cusack, Shane Stack (Adam Done), Arron Nunan
Fairview Rangers: Aaron Wall, AJ O’Connor (James Fitzgerald), Mark Slattery, John Mullane, Jamie Enright, Jeffrey Judge, Adam Frahill, Daragh Rainsford, Eddie Byrnes, Ross Mann, Jason Lipper (Robbie Kelleher)