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McBride double wraps it up

St. Joseph's 3; Melview FC 1.

It"s been a satisfying couple of weeks for the St. Joseph"s club. Last Saturday saw the second of their underage teams qualify for the last 16 of their respective SFAI Cup tournaments.

Two weeks ago, the under-12 side travelled south to and qualified for the last 16 of the their competition after defeating Cobh side Springfield Ramblers 1-0.

This week it was the turn of the under-11s who had the luxury of a home tie at Cushla Park against Longford side, Melview FC.

St. Joseph"s had many fine performances throughout the team. Gary Nicholson and Harry O"Rourke marshalled the defence well and rarely put a foot wrong all game.

Sean McManus and Kieran Connaughton were equally as dominant in midfield while, attack-wise, Jamie McBride, Darragh Lennon and David Griffin were a constant threat.

A confident start to the game from St. Joseph"s would set the tone for a fine performance from the home team.

But it wasn"t until the 8th minute until they fashioned the game"s first opportunity when a Jamie McBride corner was flicked goal-ward by Kieran Connaughton. Dylan McGoey was equal to the task, however, deflecting the ball out for another corner.

Despite their assured start to the game, St. Joseph"s were nearly caught napping two minutes later, when Melview centre-forward Rory O"Brien got on the end of a through-ball. But the race to the ball was won by Joseph"s "keeper Brandon Ryan, who cleared the danger.

A minute later a long-range Jamie McBride free-kick was spilled by Melview goalie McGoey. But just as David Griffin was about to pull the trigger, he was pulled back for an offside infringement.

McBride went close again on 12 minutes and, on 14, David Griffin found himself through on goal. But with defenders closing in, Griffin failed to get any power behind his shot and it was easily saved.

Darragh Lennon was next to go close for the home side. Twice in 15 minutes, the winger went close but found Dylan McGoey in inspired form between the Melview posts.

It seemed only a matter of time before St. Joseph"s would break the deadlock. And on 22 minutes the opening goal finally arrived.

A dangerous ball into the box from McBride wasn"t dealt with adequately by the Melview defence. The bouncing ball eventually fell at the feet of Darragh Lennon on the edge of the penalty area. Lennon kept a cool head, took his touch and poked the ball to the far corner of the net. A deserved 1-0 lead for the home side.

On 25 minutes a ball over the top from Gary Nicholson found David Griffin through on goal. But a heavy touch allowed Dylan McGoey to race from his line and smother the danger.

Gaps were beginning to appear more frequently in the Melview defence and, two minutes later, it was Jamie McBride"s turn to try his luck at a one-on-one with the "keeper. McBride did manage to get his shot away but his toe-poked effort was somehow stopped by the legs of the in-form "keeper.

There was to be no further goalmouth action as Melview managed to hold out until half-time. But soon after the re-start, Joseph"s got the all-important second goal.

Harry O"Rourke played the ball in behind the Melview defence where, not for the first time, Jamie McBride had broken the offside trap. This time McBride made no mistake as he coolly slotted the ball to the bottom corner of the net to give his side the 2-0 lead they had been searching for.

A Kevin Maloney effort on 37 minutes was the best the visiting side could muster up as Joseph"s seemed now in complete control of proceedings.

And after McBride had gone close on 43 minutes, he did manage to get his second and his side"s third with 11 minutes remaining.

A blistering run down the right wing from substitute Ciaran Lennon proved the catalyst for the goal. Lennon was momentarily dispossessed at the end-line but his pressure forced the Melview defender into a rushed clearance. McBride was on hand to intercept the clearance and place the ball to the far corner of the net.

The tie was all but over but Melview had the final say when, with 7 minutes remaining, substitute Liam Flannery got in behind the Joseph"s defence before placing the ball beyond the reach of Brandon Ryan.

There were a few nervous faces in the St. Joseph"s crowd as supporters enquired as to how long was left. And although the visiting side threatened more than once in the remaining couple of minutes, the task was too great and St. Joseph"s marched on to the last 16.

ST JOSEPH"S: Brandon Ryan, Eoin Hannon, David McManus, Gary Nicholson, Harry O"Rourke, Sean McManus, Jamie McBride, Kieran Connaughton, David Griffin, Callum McCormack, Darragh Lennon.

SUBS USED: Ciaran Lennon for David Griffin (45 mins), Kyle Tobin for Darragh Lennon (45 mins), Sean Fallon for Eoin Hannon (60 mins), Niall Connaughton for Callum McCormack (60 mins).

MELVIEW FC: Dylan McGoey, Matthew Valentine, Ciaran Earley, Liam Barry, Peter Hanley, Patrick O"Shaughnessy, Kevin Maloney, David Smith, Ben Ryan, Martynas Kalinausnas, Rory O"Brien.

SUBS USED: Tobi Lawal for Rory O"Brien (HT), Liam Flannery for Ben Ryan (50 mins), Jason Nevin for Patrick O"Shaughnessy (53 mins), James Ward for Matthew Valentine (58 mins), Kieran O"Boyle for Dylan McGoey (60 mins).