Portlaoise beaten in the cup by Bangor

FAI Metropolitan Cup Last 32

Bangor Celtic arrived in Rossleighan Park on Friday night and handed Portlaoise a defeat to end their interest in the FAI Metropolitan Cup. Josh Ojelabi had a hand in all four goals, scoring twice and getting two assists. The big man was literally and figuratively head and shoulders above the rest. The final scoreline does the hosts no justice whatsoever as this was a cup tie that really could have gone either way. 

Bangor played the first half at a million miles an hour, changing up their point of attack and causing problems throughout. Their front two are a formidable pair, combining Josh Ojelabi's skill and strength with Ronan Hanaphy's blistering pace.

Bangor Celtic 4

Portlaoise AFC 1

Hanaphy had the ball in the net after 12 minutes but it was ruled offside. Ojelabi made a powerful run into the box on the half-hour mark but was denied by a goal-saving tackle from Aidan McGovern.

Portlaoise captain, Jason Murphy had three chances in the opening ten minutes, including a big shout for a penalty. Conor Moure's challenge was clumsy at best but the centre back got away with it.

The hosts were very compact in midfield, denying Bangor time on the ball. They were getting stuck in and the visitors looked uncomfortable with the physicality. Portlaoise were doing their best work on the counter-attack, with Jason Murphy, Colm Poole and Davey Doyle putting in a hell of a shift. 

Doyle was outstanding for the home side, following up his eye-catching performance last week against Arklow in the league. He was holding the ball up really well and finally released Murphy in the 43rd minute. The captain calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving Portlaoise a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Portlaoise needed extra time to come through an incredibly tough first round tie against UCD last month. Bangor sit one place behind UCD in the Major Division so Portlaoise would have been well aware of the level of the opposition and would have fancied their chances.

But the visitors were level just three minutes into the second half when Sean Whelan pulled the ball back into the box where the waiting Ojelabi side-footed home.

The next twenty minutes were fast-paced and end-to-end with the tie on a knife-edge. The Portlaoise back four looked assured in defence, while full backs, Michael Rogers and Jason Woods were running hard and direct up the wide channels.

Bangor freshened things up with three substitutions midway through the half and the changes paid dividends within minutes. Ojelabi seemed to have all the time in the world when the ball fell to him inside the box. The big man held his nerve, giving Sean McCormack no chance.

A relentless final fifteen minutes followed, with Portlaoise creating plenty of opportunities but unable to find the breakthrough. They threw caution to the wind but left themselves open at the back. Bangor put the game to bed in stoppage time, twice hitting Portlaoise on the break with goals from Jordan Andre in the 90th minute and Davis Samson in the 93rd.