Rosario 0-1 Tummery Athletic 

Malachy McLaughlin scored the only goal of the game for Tummery as last season’s Junior Cup semi-finalists made it safely through to round three. 

In a closely contested match with few goal scoring chances, a goal with twenty minutes remaining proved enough for the victory, with manager Kevin McAleer feeling his team were the better side throughout.  

“We absolutely deserved it,” he said.  “It was a close game and there wasn’t a lot of clear-cut chances, but we definitely edged the game from start to finish. 

"The longer a game goes on you start to wonder if you are going to get the goal you deserve, or are they going to maybe steal one themselves, but from the first whistle, our work rate and attitude was brilliant away from home against a tough team that we knew were going to be a good side.

"They tried to play football, but we matched them and more from the first whistle. They were a good side with some big physical fellas that put themselves about.

"We kept them at range and limited their chances to crosses and dealt with those really well. We really were comfortable.” 

The Tummery defensive line has been key to their recent successes, having not conceded a goal in all competitions since the middle of August.

“Defensively we were solid again,” acknowledged McAleer. “That is another clean sheet, seven in a row. I can’t really think of any team in my time that has managed this many clean sheets in a row.

"We know it will come to an end at some point, but it is great for us confidence wise at the minute.” 

Shea Devlin was a constant threat for Tummery with his direct running and pace getting the away side into attacking areas, and it was his pass to McLaughlin that finally broke Rosario’s resistance after 69 minutes.  

Tummery broke forward from the centre of the pitch and Devlin’s pass inside allowed McLaughlin to burst between two defenders and then turn inside a third before slotting past the keeper. 

Rosario mounted a late assault with a succession of crosses from deep, but Nathan Hunter in the Tummery goal gathered the high balls with a minimum of fuss to ensure Tummery held on to their lead. 

Tummery return to league action this weekend, with a local derby against Strathroy Harps.  

“We are looking forward to it,” admitted McAleer.  “Last year we maybe ran away with the games, but previous to that they have all been close encounters.

"We know it is going to be a battle on Saturday. It is going to be a physical game.  There might not be a lot of football played.

"It’s going to be one where if you can win first and second balls it will tell the tale. We know it is going to be a tight one. They are off to a good start as well and are playing good football by all accounts.”