Bandon and Ringmahon live to fight again after FAI Senior Cup draw

FAI Senior Cup First Round: Bandon 1 Ringmahon Rangers 1

Bandon and Ringmahon Rangers will have to battle all over again after their FAI Senior Cup first round tie at Bandon’s Town Park ground on Thursday evening failed to find a winner.

Bandon took the lead through a clinical finish by Keith Holden, before Ringmahon levelled through an Alan Higgins close range finish.

With the prize of progressing to the next round in the shape of a potential lucrative tie against a League Of Ireland side, there was plenty of motivation for both of these Munster Senior League sides to progress.

Ringmahon operate at a division below Bandon, but they knocked the West Cork side out of the FAI Intermediate Cup earlier this season.

Both sides went for it at the start, with Dion Hennessy missing a chance for the visitors, while Bandon striker Keith Holden had a great opportunity early on, but blasted wide. Ringmahon could have gone in front in the 20th minute when Ian Long shot over after a good ball in by Hennessy.

The end-to-end nature continued, with Bandon’s Brendan Cullen was unable to direct Holden’s cross on target.

Roy Kenny rattled the crossbar for Ringmahon in the 30th minute, as the visitors were by this stage just about edging it possession wise.

Bandon though had more clear cut chances in the opening half, so it was little surprise when they took the lead, when Holden finished clinically to the right corner.

Ringmahon drew level early into the second half, when Higgins was on hand to knock in a free from the right by Jason Forde.

Both sides were determined and did their utmost to find a winner. Bandon went close when Cullen’s header from a Holland cross was saved by Ringmahon keeper James Kirby.

Ringmahon were looking the more likely as the second half wore on, with Kenny and Forde going close for the visitors.

Their cause wasn’t helped though when referee Dan Deady gave Hennessy his marching orders.

Both sides will have to do it all again in a reply at Ringmahon Park. That will be the fourth meeting between the teams in an FAI competition this campaign.

BANDON:

O’Neill; O’Donovan, D Cullen (Harrington, 84), S Holland, Barry; O’Mahony, R Holland (Hurley, 87), O’Donoghue, Crowley; Holden, B Cullen.

Subs not used:

Lordan, Hurley, Collins.

RINGMAHON RANGERS:

: Kirby(Mc Sweeney, 75) ; Forde, Higgins, Foley, Delaney; Deasy, Kenny; Coughlan (O’Leary, 68), O’Regan (Hawkins,58), Long; Hennessy.

Sub not used:

Woods.

Referee:

Dan Deady.