Athboy Celtic savour cup win as OMP fall to first defeat

It had to happen sometime and it happened this morning when OMP suffered their first defeat of the season to a battling Athboy Celtic side in the FAI Junior Cup. 

OMP had travelled to Athboy with real hopes of victory and when they went 2-0 up with two well-taken goals from Ryan Murphy after 19 minutes they could be forgiven for thinking they would maintain their run. 

Instead of OMP pushing on to secure their ticket into the next round it was Athboy Celtic who found a rich vein of form. 

Displaying plenty of spirit and determination Noel Payne's young side pulled a goal back through the skilful Dean Mullen on 21 minutes. 

They conjured up an equalsier shortly before the break when Padraig Gilsenan guided the ball to the net from just inside the box. 

OMP had plenty of possession early in the second-half but with 59 minutes on the clock Athboy's Brendan Milligan delivered one of his trademark long throws from the right sideline and Cillian Maguire did enough to distract OMP goalkeeper Sean McDonagh. The ball ended up in the net with the 'keeper appearing to get a  touch. 

OMP pressed relentlessly for an equaliser and they came close a few times with a stringing drive from Rob Coombes hitting the bar and away the most noticeable effort.

Showing more of the spirit that underpinned their performancer Athboy Celtic dug in and refused to yield and its them who progress to the next round.