Young goal-getter Deiric Hyland proved the reason hundreds of Kilbarrack United supporters left Greendale Road on a huge high last Friday night.
The striker, who has scored in every league game this season, brought his net-finding form to the cup and helped ensure a dramatic FAI Intermediate win for the LSL Senior 1 outfit.
Hyland sprinkled a bit of International class on a tight and tense tie that was played out in front of a League of Ireland Division 1 sized crowd.
The frontman produced when it mattered most, scoring an extra-time double to bring his personal tally for the season into double figures and fire the home United into both the last 16 of the prestigious cup contest and the first round of next season’s FAI Senior Cup.
Ayrfield, who are flying in Senior 1A this season, came to Greendale full of confidence and that self belief was obvious from the off.
The early stages were somewhat cagey but the visitors were well organised and looked just as capable as their hosts in a scoreless first half.
It was almost a case of cometh the hour cometh the man as the deadlock was finally broken. However, Kilbarrack stalwart Aaron Humphries didn’t want to wait until the 60th minute to make a dramatic intervention.
Humphries, who like Hyland, was part of the recent Regions Cup qualifying Irish Amateur side, pounced as the visitors failed to clear a route one kickout and skimmed a half volley from 35-yards along the surface top opening the scoring in familiar style on 56 minutes.
Hyland had the chance to double that advantage soon after but his penalty came back off the post.
It meant Humphries sublime individual effort was followed by a brilliant team goal, as the away side leveled in style on 70 minutes. Ayrfield moved the ball from back to front with purpose and pace, allowing Conor Young to roll in Stefan Madden who found the bottom corner first time.
Kilbarrack pushed to win the tie and a place in the next round over the last 15 minutes but were brought into extra time after they had one cleared off the line and net minder Stephen Whelan brilliantly tipped an effort onto the post.
Just like the first half of normal time, the first half of extra time saw no goals but just when it looked like a dramatic and highly entertaining tie may be decided by penalties Hyland came to the fore.
The striker ended a period of ping pong football when he got the ball under control on the left-hand edge of the area, bought himself half a yard with a trick before rifling home left-footed into the keeper’s top right-hand corner, sparking wild celebrations in the process.
His second, which gave the home side some breathing space, showed more old school striker qualities. The underage graduate won a flick on from a route one goal kick, burst his gut to get into the box and got an out stretched leg to the subsequent cross to extend the lead.
To ensure the clash would be deemed the most eventful of this round of FAI Intermediate Cup fixtures, Kilbarrack had a player sent off at the death and a battling Ayrfield scored a late consolation via Conor Young.
Kilbarrack’s Saturday side also enjoyed cup success over the weekend defeating Ardmore Rovers in the Leinster Junior Cup.
The former finalists progressed to the next round thanks to goals from Adam Byrne and Kayln Sweeney.
Deiric Hyland (far left) with his club-mates Ross and Aaron after representing Kilbarrack United as part of the Ireland Regions Cup team last month. Hyland made it 11 goals for the season against Ayrfield on Friday
- White water facility floated again for Dock area
- Eddie Hearn has something big planned for Dublin big man Thomas Carty
- Shopping Centre prominent for Mental Health Ireland
- ‘We’re running the Dublin Marathon for our son Ross – and to help other parents and families to cope with suicide’
- One in ten people in Ireland do not have a family GP
