NFC Kesh 1 Strathroy Harps 1 (aet)

Kesh on 4-3 on pens

NFC Kesh progressed through to the semi-final of this year’s Mulhern Cup following a penalty shoot out victory over Strathroy Harps at Michael Connolly Park on Saturday.

The visitors had taken the lead through Joachim Smith in the second half but Kesh hit straight back when a clearance by Harps goalkeeper Donnelly struck Nathan Cashel and diverted into the net.

With neither side able to find a winner in the remainder of normal time or in extra time the tie was settled on penalties and it was Lee Walker who slotted home the decisive spot kick to send Kesh through to a last four encounter against surprise package, Division Three champions Augher Stars.

Kesh manager Scott Robinson felt his side deserved to win the game.

“I felt overall, we deserved that, we were patient and we created chances and Stefan (McCusker) made two great saves in the shoot out.

“It was a great cup tie, it was end to end and we’re just happy to get through to the semi-final, that’s what it was all about,” he said.

Kesh started the tie on the front foot and both Mark Jones and Walker had penalty appeals turned down.

The away side were content to sit back and soak up the Kesh pressure and play on the break with Tommy Murphy and Caolan McCrossan looking lively in the attacking areas for Harps.

The Strathroy defence was well marshalled by player manager Benny Boyle but Kesh continued to probe and and hard working Walker had an effort go just over the bar while Grant Ellis saw his goalbound header superbly pushed over the bar by Harps custodian Dermot Donnelly.

Next to try his luck for the home side was Cashel who went on a brilliant run on the stroke of half time as he skipped around a number of defenders before hitting a rasping drive with the outside of his right boot but his attempt crashed off the crossbar as it remained goalless at the interval.

Strathroy threatened in the early stages of the second half and Kesh goakeeper Stefan McCusker was forced into a couple of smart saves before the pressure from the visitors told as they broke the deadlock.

A lovely ball from Mark Sloan was nodded on from McCrossan to Smith who produced an emphatic curling finish beyond McCusker to give the Harps the advantage.

Kesh though were back on level terms moments later as Donnelly’s attempted clearance from a back pass smacked off the inrushing Cashel and ended up going back past the keeper to the net to make it 1-1.

There was little to separate the sides over the remainder of the half although McCusker had to make a good stop to deny Murphy ten minutes from time to send the game to extra time.

The additional 20 minutes was a cagey affair with chances at a premium although Kesh almost snatched it at the death when Jones got on the end of Ryan Campbell’s cross at the back post but his header was over the bar.

In the shoot out both sides converted three of their opening five spot kicks but after McCusker saved, Walker stepped up to slot home and send Kesh through to the semi-finals.

So, a semi-final against Augher Stars is in store for Kesh and Robinson says that they won’t be underestimating their opponents.

“They are flying at the minute, they have won their league and they are into the semi-final of the cup so we will show them the respect they deserve.

“They have nothing to lose so we will have to be right on our game but we are looking forward to it,” he commented.