Kilkenny side Evergreen FC will play in the showpiece final on October 4. PHOTO: SPORTSFILE

Mayo's Castlebar Celtic bow out of FAI Junior Cup at semi-final stage

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Castlebar Celtic 1

Evergreen FC 3

CASLTEBAR CELTIC'S FAI Junior Cup dream ended in defeat to Kilkenny's Evergreen FC at a wet and windswept Umbro Park this afternoon.

Evergreen led 1-0 at the break through Ethan Phelan's 29th-minute strike, after Celtic survived several early scares from Ben Hickey and Andrew Wall.

Celtic came out fighting after the interval, dominating long spells without finding the net.

Evergreen substitute Xoliswa Stafford had a 69th-minute goal ruled out for offside, before making no mistake a minute later to put the Kilkenny side firmly in control.

Mark Cunningham pulled one back for Celtic in the 86th minute from a Dylan Edwards corner, but the celebrations were short-lived.

Mikey Clifford restored Evergreen's two-goal cushion just a minute later, converting the rebound after Stefan Hester saved his first effort.

Celtic pushed for a way back and had penalty appeals waved away in the closing stages, but Evergreen held on to book their place in a third FAI Junior Cup final in the Kilkenny's side history.

Caoimhin Rowland
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