Alfies Heros 3-3 Cutters
Alfies made it two draws from two in an entertaining back-and-forth game with Cutters. Cutters hit the front in the 12th minute with a goal from Cathal Murphy. A cross from Michael Clancy found Murphy who did a bit of dancing with the ball before slotting it into the back of the net. Alfies responded well and found the equaliser 8 minutes later. Alfies made the mark on the second half and went ahead 5 minutes into the half. A cross from the right was deflected into the air but the Alfies striker did well to made controlled contact with the ball for a 2-1 lead. Cutters responded immediately and bludgeoned their way through the final third with great work from Pauric Hession and Sean Moriarty before Oisin O'Brien forced the ball home to bring the score to 2-2. In the 48th minute, Alfies managed to slice the Cutters open and a cross from the left was played across the goal and knocked in to give Alfies the lead. They couldn't hang on and see the game out however as Cutters grabbed the all important equaliser in the dying minutes. A ball cleared by Eoghan Begley found Tom Power who played a through ball from midfield down the left. Cian Begley squared it to Owen Fitzgerald the free man arriving at the back post for a tap-in. 3-3 the final score.
Aflies corner vs Cutters
Alfies vs Cutters
Cutters corner vs Alfies
Kearney's Army 0-5 Boca Seniors
Kearney's Army never got going in their tie against Boca Seniors. Boca got off to a fast start with a goal in the 4th minute. A shot from outside the box found its way in to the back of the net to give Boca the perfect start. Boca's second came from a inswinging freekick in the 6th minute. A third was added when scoring on the break in the 14th minute. Things didn't get much better for Kearney's in the second half despite Robbie Carey finding the back of the net. The referee ruled it offside though and Boca's clean sheet remained intact. Two more were added for Boca before the end to give a final score of 5-0.
Boca vs Kearneys
Boca vs Kearneys
Wembledines 2-0 Team Lightning
Team Lightning have been on a good run in the FNL and the history books had to be consulted to find their last loss. A 3-1 loss vs Cutters in January 2020 was the last time Team Lightning were on the wrong side of a result. Global pandemic withstanding, this was a still a record of just 1 loss in 18 games. Lightning went close in the 20th minute after a through ball from Chimka found Phil Maher. A feint from Maher allowed him just enough space to get the shot away and force a great save from Frank McEvoy. The opening goal came half-way through the second half. Dines played a weighted pass from the left side of midfield to just inside the edge of the box. A reverse ball found the Wembledines striker who applied a nice finish to go one up. Three minutes later, Dines went close again only to be denied by a great save from Mark Carey (video below). As Lightning pushed on, they remained susceptible to a Wembledines counter attack. This proved to be case as Dines avoided a nervy finish when they wrapped up the game five minutes from time - video of second goal below.
Wembledines goal vs Lightning
Lightning save vs Wembledines
Lightning corner vs Wembledines
Wembledines vs Lightning
Delta 3-1 Delta United FC
In the battle of the Deltas, it was the underdogs that took the lead in this one. 15 minutes in, a 40-yard screamer gave from Jordan gave United something to hang onto. United battled for the remainder of the half and were minutes away from getting to the break with their lead intact. A set piece their undoing though as Delta equalised from a corner. Six minutes into the second half, Delta pulled ahead when Wayne slotted a shot from 20 yards to give Delta a 2-1 lead. Delta found a bit of breathing room 5 minutes later when they got their third goal from a free kick that looped over the United keeper nestling in the far post - video below.
Delta free-kick goal vs Delta Utd
Delta vs Delta Utd
Delta goal vs Delta Utd