Bay progressed in the Tully Cup after a hard fought display vs Parkceltic Summerhill but for a long time it didn’t look the case as parkceltic dug in & frustrated the opposition as they held onto a 2-1 lead.
Bay started off the brighter of the 2 sides, Anto Mc Laughlin warming the keepers hands with a shot from outside the area, Paddy Connor seen his shot go just over the bar & bay were looking dangerous early on but it was Parkceltic who opened the scoring, a scuffed shot found its way to an unmarked striker in the box & he couldn’t miss from 6 yards out.
Bay didn’t panic & grabbed an equalizer 5 mins later,a well worked move down the right finished with Brian McCloskey crossing & Shaun o Connor slotting home from close range. It was all bay but disaster struck for the Dundalk side as a defensive error left the winger one on one with keeper Kevin Mullen & from a tight angle he finished well into the top corner right before the break to see Parkceltic take a slender one goal lead into the break.
The 2nd half started fairly evenly,both sides testing the keepers with free kicks & sub Alfonso Crespo seeing his top corner bound shot pawed away by the keeper. At the other end Mullen was forced into a great save while one on one with the Parkceltic striker.
Bay peppered the Parkceltic goal as the game to no avail & Parkceltic done there best to run down the clock at every opportunity & it didn’t look to be bays day but in the 97th minute paddy Connor sent the ball back into the box from a poor clearance & O’Connor was there to slot home a deserved equalizer & force the game to extra time.
Parkceltic were fading & bay bombarded there half in extra time but couldn’t grab the vital winner & the game went to penalties.
Alfonso Crespo set the tone by smashing home his penalty & keeper Kevin Mullen guessed right & made a great save from Parkceltic peno, Paric Browne and Joe woods slotted there respective penalties home as did the Parkceltic midfielder but it was keeper Mullen again with a vital save leaving Steven McHuinness to step up for the winner,the defender made no mistake rifling home into the top corner to send bay into the next round.
Team : Kevin Mullen, Brian McCloskey, Steven McGuinness, Angelo Stanley, Pairic Browne, Anto McLaughin, Johnny Winters (Joe Woods 65), Paddy Connor, Kevin Scollon (Alfonso Crespo 65), Shaun O’Connor, Mario Kolak (Alan McCartney 70)
