Iorras Aontaithe 0-3 Mervue Utd A (Connacht Junior Cup)

Mervue Utd's Junior team advanced to the last eight of the Connacht Junior Cup after a long trip to north Mayo side, Iorras Aontaithe, saw them record a hard earned 3-0 win.

A goal in either half from striker Stephen Larkin and one from his strike partner Coley Kelly ensured a last sixteen win at Carne Nash Park in Belmullet on Sunday afternoon.

In a tight opening half chances were at a premium as both defences held sway on a perfect sunny afternoon for football. Stephen Larkin had Mervue's first effort with a shot on target which the home keeper did well well to hold after a good passing move involving Stephen Cunningham and Coley Kelly set up the chance on 20 minutes.

Ryan Griffin kept the game scoreless four minutes later with an excellent save down low at his near post. Two minutes before the break and a brillant flowing passing move created the opening score.

Tommy Walsh and Derek McWalter exchanged passes before Walsh released Cunningham down the right and he picked out Larkin in the box with an excellent ball and the striker blasted the ball into the roof of the net for a 1-0 interval lead.

The home side were awarded a penalty 11 minutes after the break when Vinny O'Connor was adjudged to have taken down Sean Gaughan in the box but the resultant spot kick was fired wide of Ryan Griffin's post.

Derek McWalter went close to doubling Mervue's lead on 63 minutes when he saw his shot just clear the Erris crossbar after Coley Kelly's pass had set him up.

Two minutes later and it was 2-0 when Kelly worked himself some space on the edge of the box before firing a low shot under the home keeper.

Padraig Kilgannon's side added a third with six minutes remaining when the home keeper failed to hold Tommy Walsh's free-kick and Stephen Larkin knocked the loose ball home for 3-0.

An away tie to the winners of Dysart/NUI Galway now awaits in the last eight in a couple of weeks time.