Securing a place in the semi-final was far from plain sailing and a combination of missed frees, over elaboration and an extremely competent Dublin outfit, meant the future looked bleak for quite a while. Aided by a stiff breeze Marino were always in front in a first half that never quite reached classic proportions. Scores from play from Shane O’Connor and Gavin Kearey as well as a few pointed frees kept them in contention and they approached the second half with confidence.

Its seemed for a while as if this may have been misplaced for despite starting to dominate they never managed to gain control and both sides were like boxers trading punches with neither capable of delivering the killer blow. With ten minutes to go and trailing by a point things were looking bleak when a long clearance into the Dublin area saw David Hussey first to react. Holding off two challenges he showed why he is a dual star kicking a fine effort goal ward, this drew a fine save from the keeper, claims for a penalty were raging as the keeper continued his run to scythe Hussey down, it was all rendered meaningless as Emmet Divilly emerged first and bravest to crash the ball to the net and set the game on fire.

Marino responded well tacking on points that were duly answered by Shane O’Connor and a wonderful strike from Daithi Condon. Frees were swapped and the game hung in the balance. It was proving to be a classic encounter and the large home crowd were playing its part in keeping the excitement at fever pitch. They went from delighted to delirious When Sean O’Callaghan appeared to put matters beyond a doubt with a superbly taken goal. But it was long way from over and the Marino men rallied to apply tremendous pressure. The defence were tremendous and Johnny Mullins had given so much he wasn’t capable of walking from the field when it came time to replace him with Leon Vaughan. But if they were great as a unit Gerry Whyte lead from the front and lifted the siege emphatically. When Emmet got up quickly from a flying block down to execute the same manoeuvre again the Dublin men new they were not going to find a way back. The reception that greeted the final whistle was initial relief but also of a steely determination, as in the last of the connaught league games they had shown that they had that never say die attitude, that above all else is what winning teams are made of. They now wait to see who the semi-final opponents will be but will approach the game with a steady and quite confidence. Barry Newell in Goal and the full backline of Colm Forrestal, Michael Donoghue and Stephen McKeogh were rock solid. The half back line is establishing itself as a crucial unit and it is on the performance of Johnny Mullins, Gerry Whyte and Wayne Power that a lot of the future outcomes will hinge- their performances to date have given every indication that will be fully capable.

While we are by now fully aware of Gavin Kearey’s capability the performances of Daithi Condon, Sean O Callaghan Eamon Higgins and David Hussey were the real exciting outcome from the day, and the performance of Michael Byrnes at midfield has answered a long term problem position.

Coach Kevin O’ Connor was delighted with the outcome and especially the spirit shown in the latter stages. He does know that there is a lot of room for improvement and he will be looking at all the shortcomings as the lads step up the training for the semi-finals next week.

Castlebar v Cavan

After the previous week when results were near impossible to come by this was indeed a good week as the men’s soccer team finally fulfilled their potential with a creditable 3-1 Victory over Cavan College in the CFAI Challenge cup. Early chances were squandered but the pressure finally told when Colin Walsh cut in from the left wing onto his favoured right foot to unleash an unstoppable shot from all of 30 yards. Castlebar were firmly in control and a delightful cross from Eoin Robbins should have been turned in at the far post but for a lack of Communication. First half dominance was accurately reflected when Dave Murphy cleared upfield under pressure and Colin Walsh was first to the falling ball to kill it smartly before rounding the keeper for his second.

The second half should have been more of the same but a lack of concentration and some sloppy defending gifted the Cavan men a goal and a lifeline, this they duly grabbed and proceeding to push all out for an equaliser. The defence had to be on their toes to deal with a few dangerous efforts but they coped admirably. The game was wrapped up in fine

Style with one of the most clinical dead ball executions you are likely to see, Eoin Robbins spotting a gap and curling the ball deftly inside the far post to seal victory and march onto the third round.

Both victorious teams will have a week off as they await their next round opponents