Evergreen lose out to St Michael’s of Tipperary in FAI Junior Cup

Evergreen’s journey in the FAI Junior Cup came to an end when going doen to St Michael’s on the Kells Road on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors were right at it from the beginning and almost took the lead in the opening minute, but Russell Quirke’s shot went narrowly wide.

The opening goal was always going to be crucial and first blood went to the Tipperary Town side in the 28th minute when Jimmy Carr got the ball on his left leg and his effort flew in off the post.

Adrian Walsh did well to punch away an Evergreen free kick as the Kilkenny hosts looked for a quick response, but the experienced Tipperary side drew the sting out of their attacks and went to the break a goal to the good.

The Noresiders had a lot of possession in the second half but found Adrian Walsh and the visiting defence equal to everything that came their way. The hosts did have a spell midway through the half, where they looked particularly dangerous, but the wily visitors produced heroics time and again to keep their goal intact.

A tight game was eventually put to bed seven minutes from time, when Jimmy Carr won a free on the left and Rhys O’Regan’s delivery saw Seanie Guerins flick a header beyond the grasp of Nathan Owens in the Evergreen goal.

St Michaels: Adrian Walsh; Sean Patrick Guerins, Sean Murphy, Denis John Cremins, Paul Breen; Cillian Coonan, Rhys O’Regan, Joseph Mulcahy, Jimmy Carr; Edmond O’Dwyer, Russell Quirke. Subs: Derek Breen, Colin Bargary, Michael Nash, Ashley Kelliher, Cian Fadden, Daniel O'Brien, Donagh Hickey.

Evergreen: Nathan Owens; Sam Hickey, Jason Quan, Adrian Cleere, Lee Delaney; John Dunleavy, Ethan Phelan, Ify Nzewi, Chris Whearty; Michael Drennan, David Grincell. Subs: Jamie Owens, Damian Kelly, Dean Cornally, Andrew Wall, Sam Johnston, Dillon Lawless, Vincent O’Grady.