Goals by goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy and David O'Brien saw Cherry Orchard beat fellow Leinster Senior League side Garda after a war of attrition at Ballyfermot yesterday.

After 42 minutes of a first half in which the sides cancelled each other out, Stephen Brady upended Paul Kenny in the Garda penalty area. Brendan Kennedy, brother of Irish international Mark, jogged up from his goal to stroke home the penalty, his second goal of this competition.

The second half sparked into life on the hour when Garda midfielder Matthew Buttner picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Graham Cassin and was sent off. Garda picked themselves up three minutes later when Barry McGlynn put Peter Finn in the clear, but the striker pulled his low shot wide of the upright.

Paul McAtee had another chance on 68 minutes when he collected a through ball from Derek Bridgeman and cracked a fierce shot off the upright and wide.

Orchard's second goal came on 70 minutes. A long ball by Jim Reilly was flicked on by Neil Stone and his neat header put Davy O'Brien in the clear and the former Garda player rounded O'Dea before he coolly slotted home into the empty net.

CHERRY ORCHARD: Kennedy; Barry, Luby, Reilly, Harrington, McNeill, Smith, Dunne, Cassin, Kenny, O'Brien. Subs: Stone for Kenny 65mins, O'Meara (65mins), Irvin for Barry (71mins).

GARDA: O'Dea; McAtee, Barclay (McGrath 76mins), Cherry, Brady (McElroy 87mins), Buttner, McGlynn, Mulhall, Schutte, Finn, Bridgeman (Maguire 73mins). Subs: Maguire for Bridgeman (73mins), McGrath for (76mins), McElroy for Brady (87mins).

Referee: Paul Tuite