FAI Junior Cup holders Portmarnock swept past the disappointing challenge of Cork's Rockmount at the AUL complex in Dublin yesterday.
Two goals behind after 19 minutes, Rockmount were further enervated six minutes later when goalkeeper Patrick Cassidy was dismissed. Portmarnock also ended the game with 10 men after Declan Dolan was sent off six minutes from time for a second bookable offence.
Portmarnock were ahead after just 11 minutes when Joe Feeney swept through the Rockmount defence before calmly firing past Cassidy. Eight minutes later full back Adrian McDonald scored with a cracking 25-yard drive to the top corner.
Substitute Des Cummins' curling 30-yard free kick in the 67th minute sealed the issue.
Portmarnock: Kavanagh, McDonald, Dolan, Mooney, Maddock, Branigan, Bolton (Barry 75 mins), Flynn, Gibbons, Doran (Cummins 66 mins), Feeney (Roche 83 mins).
Rockmount: Cassidy, I Yelverton (O'Keeffe 54 mins), D Martin, Oldham, Lynch, O'Brien, D Long, A Martin (McCarthy 26 mins), T Long, O'Shea (O'Sullivan 79 mins), S Yelverton.
Referee: I Oakes (Dublin).
Irish Under-15 international Paul Murphy has signed for Manchester City.
Murphy, who plays with the All Blacks club in Wexford, has been targeted by a number of English clubs, including Manchester United, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Middlesbrough, and had extended trial periods with each. The chance of making it into the first team was the decisive factor for Murphy. "Liverpool, who were my other choice, keep buying in players whereas City have to try to bring more players through," he said.
