Everton 0 Carrick Utd 2:IAN CLEARY proved the Carrick United hero, bagging two goals that sent them through to the FAI Ford Cup fourth round, even if they did have to spend the majority of this tie at Everton Park yesterday afternoon playing with just nine men.

Referee Padraigh Sutton booked five players in the opening 20 minutes.

In the 37th minute, an Alan Ryan shot was redirected cleverly by Cleary who, standing almost on the penalty spot, poked his head out to wrong foot Everton goalkeeper Shane Sherlock.

And then two minutes later, the game took an even more aggressive turn when firstly Anthony Power walked for a second booking before his team-mate Wayne Fitzgerald followed for dissent. His brother, substitute Thomas, drew a third red card for encroachment.

But for all that, they protected the lead, their fitness making it seem as though, until the very end, they had their full complement of players.

Not content, however, with sitting on the slender goal advantage, they were well worthy of extending the lead when, in the 53rd minute, Cleary was set up by Daryl Kavanagh's cross, the eventual man of the match making no mistake with his first-time strike from eight yards.

Everton did pile on the pressure, hitting the upright three times, but they never managed to make the breakthrough to even look like halting Carrick's incredible season.

EVERTON: S Sherlock; P Hayes, C Byrnes, M Devine, T Daly (A Murray, 58 mins); D O'Keefe, D Horan (capt), P McGrath, T White; G Twomey, L Fitzpatrick (G Hickey, 67 mins).

CARRICK UNITED: A Walsh; J Walsh, A O'Donnell, J Walsh, B Barry; W Fitzgerald (capt), K Walsh (B Murphy, 73 mins), A Ryan, A Power; I Cleary (G Keane, 80 mins), D Kavanagh (R Lawrence, 70 mins). Referee: Padraigh Sutton (Clare).