FOR THE SECOND consecutive year, the FAI Junior Cup made its way down to Munster and few would begrudge Limerick's Fairview Rangers their victory, albeit in a disappointing final played at Dalymount Park yesterday.

Up to the 79th minute, when the woodwork twice conspired to deny Fairview and, equally, some fine goalkeeping by Colin Fleming denied Portmarnock, extra time looked a distinct possibility.

But with 11 minutes remaining, Paul O'Donnell sent over a corner from the left, one which Tom Kavanagh should have dealt with without too much trouble. He didn't, however, and there to punish his error was John Whyte, who scrambled the ball over the line.

It was just reward for Fairview Rangers who, in the final quarter, looked every bit the match favourites, although it took the introduction of former Liverpool reserve O'Donnell to spice things up.

Nonetheless, it took fine saves from Fleming, curiously overlooked for man of the match, to keep Portmarnock's Aidrian McDonald and Paul McCartney at bay as Pormarnock began brightly in the second half.

The long ball over the top, however, proved a limited ploy for the Dublin side and, as the game wore on, Fairview Rangers began to take hold in midfield.

And it was Fairview who came closest to scoring when a cross from Declan Considine was met by Jason Purcell but, to the mid fielder's agony, his header spun off the upright.

Undaunted, Purcell once more tried to breach the Portmarnock defence and with some 20 minutes remaining, he rifled in a shot which seemed destined for the back of the net only for the ball to come crashing off the underside of the crossbar.