West Finglas outfit knocks Tullamore out of LFA cup

If you want to get ahead, get a head! This was certainly the case in Leah Victoria Park last Saturday where a hat-trick of headed goals from Eoin Fowler saw West Finglas Tenants Association (WFTA) safely through to the next round at Tullamore Town's expense. Tullamore began brightly with Brian Francis putting Jason Pohl through but Liam Nelson got across to clear. The visitors showed how dangerous they could be when Mark Summers was only denied by a great Ken Doyle tackle and then, following a corner, Summer's flashed a header inches outside the left post. With 20 minutes on the clock, WFTA hit the front when Eoin Fowler got on the end of an Alan Barrett cross and sent a looping header over Martin Cunningham and into the net. Five minutes later they increased their lead when they won a corner on the left and, from the resultant kick, Fowler powered his header into the roof of the net. As Tullamore looked to get back in the game, Matthew Carragher played a great ball through to Jason Pohl but Robert Jordan was quickly off his line to clear. The visitors again threatened when Summer's sent Fowler clear but Mark Gorman managed to get back to cut out the danger. Town went close when a searching Jason Pohl cross was knocked back to Carragher, but his beautifully struck volley flew inches over the bar, and then a lovely move involving Kevin Duffy and Pohl found Ronan Kelly in space but a heavy first touch saw the chance go a-begging. With 40 minutes gone, the home side deservedly fought their way back into contention when Brian Francis picked the ball up 20 yards out with his back to goal and, turning on a sixpence, he drilled his shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net for a superb score. On the resumption Tullamore went in search of an equaliser and they went close when good play from Ronan Kelly saw him pick out Jason Pohl in the area, but he was crowded out, while at the other end Martin Cunningham did well to save at the feet of the dangerous Eoin Fowler. The home side twice went close when Robert Jordan saved from Pohl and then, following a free kick, Ken Doyle headed narrowly wide. Brian Francis again threatened to break through but Paul McCarthy got across to clear, and then Stephen Francis and Ronan Kelly combined to set up Kevin Duffy, but he shot wide. With the pressure mounting, Stephen Keogh surged into the area and, as the ball broke back, Adrian Kelly fired narrowly over and following a corner, Ken Doyle had his close range effort blocked on the line. With 80 minutes on the clock, WFTA caught Tullamore in a deadly counter attack when Eoin Fowler got on the end of a left wing cross and sent a fine header in off the right post to restore his side's two goal advantage. Town refused to lie down and went desperately close when Ronan Kelly's shot was deflected into the path of Brian Francis, but the Tullamore captain dragged his effort outside the left hand post. As the visitors wrested back control of the game, Barry McGowan picked out Stephen Hanna but Martin Cunningham saved superbly. Then Darren O'Brien broke clear but again Cunningham came to his side's rescue with a great save down low to his left. With minutes remaining McGowan found Sean Pouch and his curling shot was brilliantly tipped over by Cunningham as the visitors ran out deserving winners of this hard fought cup tie. Despite the scoreline, this was a much improved performance from Tullamore against a very good WFTA side. They were particularly impressive in the second half and can count themselves a little unlucky not to have got back on level terms before the game was finally put to bed. There were excellent contributions from Stephen Keogh, Mark Gorman, Brian Francis and Jason Pohl with Gavin O'Brien, Alan Barrett and Darren O'Brien the pick of the visitors, but the man of the match award went to WFTA's match winner, Eoin Fowler. Tullamore Town: Martin Cunningham, Phillip Hall, Mark Gorman, Ken Doyle, Stephen Keogh, Kevin Duffy, Stephen Francis, Brian Francis, Matthew Carragher, Jason Pohl and Ronan Kelly. Subs: Adrian Kelly, Michael Kenaney, Jonathan O'Donoghue, Ciaran Carragher and Mark Goodings.