After a number of early chances, a 12th minute goal from Conall O’Shaughnessy gave VEC a deserved lead in the Richard Knight Cup match against Castle Celtic on Bluebell’s Astro. But it was not until the 67th minute when Oisin Kinsella scored the second that the pressure was off VEC, who scored two further goals through Tom Wrynne in the final 10 minutes.

Pic. 1: Gav Murphy. Pic. 2: Oisín Kinsella in tussle for the ball with Jordan Howard in attendance and observed closely by Referee Tom Shannon. and Pic. 3: VEC Captain Séamus Staunton.

VEC FC now advance to the next round with a home game against Beech Park FC.

Goals from Tom Wrynne, Rob Newe, Joey Byrne and a breathtaking 30yd. strike by Jordan Howard ensured that VEC secured the 3 points that were required to put pressure on Premier Division leaders Sth. William St. Celtic against Coolock Village FC at the Oscar Traynor Centre. Final result: 4-1 to VEC.

Pic. shows VEC’s first goal by Tom Wrynne on the 30th minute mark.

Meanwhile in Division 2, a draw was no good for either Castle Celtic 2nds or VEC FC 2nds when the two met on a windswept Stannaway park as we failed to score in our third consecutive game. It ended 0-0 and leaves VEC second in the table trailing Sandford/St Marys by seven points, while Castle will have to be content with their mid-table position. VEC Squad

In a typical cup tie, VEC FC overcame Harding IF FC 2nds in a penalty shoot-out (4-3) to advance to the last 16 of the O’Neills.com Challenge Cup where we will meet Oldbury FC.

VEC’s saviour on the day was Jordan Howard who scored direct from a corner in the 14th minute and then from a free kick in the 32nd minute. In between, Harding scored in the 18th minute and then dramatically equalized with virtually the last kick of the game (95th minute) to bring the game into extra time.

With no further goals, the penalty shoot-out decided the outcome on a 4-3 score! [1 of Richie Hannify’s 2 penalty saves below]