Burns and Gray edge C of I into second round

Cork Church of Ireland marched into the second round of the men’s Irish Junior Cup, but only after they were given a stern examination by perennial rivals Cork Harlequins in an entertaining derby encounter at a freezing Garryduff this afternoon. Goals in the dying minutes of each half from Nick Burns and Andrew Gray secured a 2-0 victory which saw them dump high-profile opposition out of the tournament for the second time in succession, having defeated Annadale 3-1 in the preliminary round. But Dermot Judge’s side didn’t have it all their own way against the Division One’s bottom side, who won the corner count 5-2 and could have been level had they been more clinical up front. C of I keeper Billy Lynch was called into action as early as the second minute, saving well from Philip Chambers, but neither he nor Quins netminder Steven White had much to do for the following 25 minutes, with circle penetrations at a minimum. Quins’ Philip Burns had the ball in the net on 27 minutes after Phil O’Driscoll switched a short corner to the right, but his thunderbolt missed the backboard by a few feet to allow C of I to breathe again. But the introduction of Stephen Parker on the half-hour proved a pivotal moment, and his powerful strike was superbly deflected into the bottom corner by Nick Burns – all the more impressive given he’d his back to goal. Quins should have drawn level as they took the game to the hosts while Andrew Daunt was in the sin-bin, with Brian Hayes Curtin’s pass allowed to bounce all the way through to Mark Lombard, who could only find air despite being unmarked seven yards out.

Quins coach Philip White sensibly removed Geert Fromme from the fray midway through the second half, after the Dutchman had been warned by umpire Peter Murphy about his conduct after some rash challenges and choice words. Fromme didn’t return to the field thereafter, and while Quins missed his guile in the offensive third, they were still proving a handful for the C of I defence. Lynch did well to smother Eddie Dore’s shot after Lee d’Alton’s incisive cross-field ball had found the Kilkenny man free in the circle on 57 minutes, while White did superbly to save a stinging half-volley from Roger Gray at the other end minutes later. Quins were given all the impetus they needed to push for an equaliser when Parker was harshly yellow-carded after his shoulder accidentally collided with Hayes Curtin’s face with ten minutes to go. But Andrew Gray took the wind out of their sails with six minutes to go, firing home a low drag to ensure C of I advanced. Elsewhere, John Jermyn’s short corner prowess helped C of I hit eight past  third-placed Bandon at Garryduff in Division One. The Irish international midfielder bagged two hat-tricks – with five of those goals arriving via his trademark drag-flicks – in a game that was more evenly contested than the scoreline suggests.

Drags from Jermyn in the 15th, 25th and 27th minutes had the hosts 3-0 to the good at the break, and Jonny Bruton’s strike two minutes after the resumption put the result beyond doubt. Jermyn’s fourth almost snapped the net in the 51st minute, before Stephen Parker – playing his second game this afternoon – made it six. Jermyn grabbed one from play himself before rifling home another drag to complete the rout with 11 minutes to go. Quins firsts saw their match with Catholic Institute postponed due to the weather, meaning C of I have now opened a three-point gap at the top of the table, with 29 goals to their credit – and none conceded – from just four games.