St Pauls' bandaged Christy Lee and Crusaders hero Mickey Clooney go toe to toe. | Photos: Noel Browne
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Crusaders caused a shock when they came out on top against the favourites in the first of the Division 4 Cup semi-finals in Ozier Park on Thursday night.
The normal 60 minutes didn’t produce any great highlights, but the penalty shoot-out provided plenty of talking points. St Pauls, who have been battling it out with Waterford Crystal all season for the league title, went close to scoring against mid-table Crusaders after four minutes when Albert Healy met a left wing cross from Kevin McLawrence but his headed effort went narrowly wide.
Two minutes later Christy Lee was inches away from scoring following good work by Pat Dunphy. Mikey Clooney tested the Saints goalkeeper Mark Kennedy with a good shot from 25 yards on 16 minutes. The St Pauls custodian was called into action once again in the last minute of the first half, saving from David Kent.
There was only two moments of note in the second period. David Kent sent over a corner kick from the left on 45 minutes which was met by Mikey Clooney but his low shot was kicked off the line by Pat Dunphy with goalkeeper Mark Kennedy well beaten.
With time running out the Crusaders goalkeeper Noel O’Dwyer did brilliantly well to tip a free kick taken by Gary Coad over the crossbar.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full match report.
