Temple Villa FC Thrash St Josephs B 9-0 In Dominant Cup Display

Temple Villa FC travelled to Monksland, Athlone on 18 October 2025 for a 10:45am kick-off in a cup away match against St Josephs B. Over the course of a 60-minute contest plus added time, Temple Villa produced a ruthless attacking performance to secure a resounding 9-0 victory.

The home side set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sam Mellet guarding the goal. The defensive line featured James Dullea at right back, Tiernan O'Shaughnessy and Dan Dwyer as central defenders, and Luke McCrossan operating at left back. In midfield, Darragh Nee and Oliver Cooney held the central midfield roles, tasked with both defensive duties and launching attacks. Ahead of them, the attacking midfield trio consisted of Harry Donlon on the right, Christopher Coyle centrally, and James O'Grady on the left, supporting lone striker Tom Adamson. The substitutes bench included James Henson.

From the outset, Temple Villa imposed themselves on the match. The breakthrough came in the 10th minute when Oliver Cooney found the net, expertly finished following an assist from Tom Adamson. This early goal set the tone for what was to be a relentless offensive display.

Ten minutes later, a tactical change saw James Henson replace Harry Donlon at the 20-minute mark, signalling a fresh injection of energy on the right flank. The substitution paid immediate dividends as James O'Grady doubled the lead in the 23rd minute, again assisted by Tom Adamson’s precise delivery.

Just three minutes later, O'Grady struck again, this time converting a cross from left back Luke McCrossan, who had pushed forward effectively down the left channel. The rapid succession of goals left St Josephs B reeling.

The momentum continued as James Henson, now fully integrated into the side, scored his first goal for the club in the 27th minute, assisted by the industrious Darragh Nee. This flurry of goals brought the half to a close at the 30-minute mark with Temple Villa leading 4-0.

The second half began with no let-up from the visitors. In the 34th minute, Tom Adamson got on the scoresheet himself, finishing off a slick move orchestrated by Oliver Cooney. Adamson’s clinical finishing was on display again ten minutes later when he netted his second goal of the match, this time set up by James Henson.

Shortly after, at the 47th minute, Harry Donlon was reintroduced to the pitch, replacing James Henson. Donlon’s return was marked almost immediately as he provided an assist for Christopher Coyle, who scored in the 48th minute to extend the lead further.

The scoring spree continued with James O'Grady completing his hat-trick in the 50th minute, assisted by Christopher Coyle, showcasing the fluidity and understanding among the attacking players.

The final goal came in the 58th minute when Harry Donlon himself found the net, capitalising on a pass from O'Grady to round off an emphatic team performance.

Throughout the match, Temple Villa’s 4-2-3-1 formation allowed for a balanced approach, with solid defensive coverage from the back four and midfield duo, while the attacking midfielders and striker combined effectively to dismantle the opposition’s defence. The interplay between the wide players and central attackers was particularly notable, with Adamson, O'Grady, and Cooney all contributing significantly to the goal tally.

In the end, Temple Villa FC’s comprehensive 9-0 victory was a statement of intent in this cup competition, highlighting their attacking prowess and tactical discipline on the road at Monksland.