AVONDALE UNITED had to wait until three minutes from time for the goal that finally clinched their win in the first round tie against CYM at Avondale Park yesterday.

Substitute Eric Smith ran clear of the CYM defence onto a clever pass from Len Downey and as he shot past goalkeeper Keith O'Reilly, Avondale could finally relax.

The Cork side had the better of the game but only marginally so. On a day when a very heavy pitch and driving rain made conditions very unpleasant, both teams rose manfully to the task to provide a thrilling contest.

Avondale always held an advantage but CYM showed plenty of fire and determination and could never be discounted. A feature of the contest was the excellent quality of all four goals.

The first came after 23 minutes when a free from Billy O'Sullivan was headed powerfully by Len Downey past CYM goalkeeper O'Reilly. CYM were level after 23 minutes when full back Dave Nolan ran onto a pass from Donal O'Brien to score with a spectacular shot from the edge of the penalty area.

There was always a finer edge to Avondale's attacking work as illustrated when Damian O'Connell headed against the crossbar and they deserved to go in front again when O'Connell crashed home a free from 20 yards on the call of half-time.

CYM might well have turned the game had they succeeded a second time in regaining equality but Tom Megan's shot rebounded off an upright after flying past goalkeeper Finbarr Delaney, after 59 minutes.

At the other end Thomas Long was denied a goal by an offside flag after finding the CYM net 10 minutes from time. But Avondale would not be denied and Smith's third goal came eventually to underline their superiority.