VALE VIEW SHANKILL's FAI Cup dreams lay in tatters after a cruel deflection deprived them of at least a replay following yesterday's first round tie played at Stradbrook.

Alan Martin's 70th minute strike was all that separated the two in the end, but if truth be told Rockmount could have won this by perhaps three or more were it not for the splendid keeping of Richard Winters.

But just as Rockmount had given up hope of ever finding a way past Winters, Martin fired in a speculative shot which cannoned off a Vale View player to totally wrong foot the goalkeeper. By means of consolation, Winters took the Man of the Match award for some sterling work in goal, but this failed to cover up Vale View's overall weaknesses.

Vale View lacked any real bite, especially in the midfield sector where Rockmount duo Martin and Alan Falvey ran rampant for virtually the entire game.

The Munster Senior League outfit were unlucky not to take the lead after 13 minutes when Martin fired in a ferocious shot which had goal written all over it until Winters brought about the most wonderful of saves when he palmed the ball over the bar.