Blast from the Past. Brady and O’Sullivan prominent as Leeside defeat Ballincollig in County Cup final. Jun '04

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Blast from the Past. Brady and O’Sullivan prominent as Leeside defeat Ballincollig in County Cup final. 


6th June 2004

MURPHY’S STOUT COUNTY CUP FINAL


Ballincollig 2 Leeside 1


Ace sharpshooter Dave Kenny scored twice in the opening nine minutes as Ballincollig defeated a game Leeside outfit 2-1 in the final of the Murphy’s Stout County Cup at Turner’s Cross yesterday morning.


Kenny’s first strike, from about nine yards, came after the Leeside defence failed to clear a first minute corner. The second was set up by promising youth player Richard O’Brien and Kenny’s superb finish gave keeper Greg O'Sullivan no chance.

Ballincollig's Adrian Brady (left) clashes with Leeside's Barry Brady; also in picture is Kieran Murphy (right). Murphy's Stout AUL County Cup, Ballincollig 2 Leeside 1, Turner's Cros, 06.06.04, Billy Lyons


Leeside, short a number of the players that helped reach the final because of registration difficulties, fought back well, never gave up and indeed had the winners on the rack for much of the second half.


Ballincollig were lucky enough also midway through the first half. Then defender Adrian Brady appeared to move his hand towards the ball in the box. But the referee waved the claims away and then sent John O'Sullivan, the Leeside assistant manager, out of the dugout for protesting too loudly.

Ballincollig, ready for action


Leeside though were cheering loudly just before the break when they pulled one back. The goal was made by Barry Brady and finished superbly, low across the keeper, by Under 17 player Brian O'Sullivan.


Brady and O’Sullivan were probably the top two Leeside players and they kept the pressure on for much of the second half. But there were narrow escapes at the other end also, as there were in he first half when Kenny missed a couple of chances of completing his hat trick.

Leeside


The narrowest came in the 58th minute. O’Brien freed Colin Weste and his superb cross fell to Jason O'Leary at the far post but his header came back off the timber.


Leeside could well have been level a few minutes later. Then Ballincollig keeper Owen Walsh dropped a long range free by Jimmy O'Sullivan. Midfielder Martin Buckley, who had a bruising tussle with Ballincollig veteran John Kelleher, hadn't time to react and the ball bounced off his shin and ran inches wide.





Leeside keeper Greg O’Sullivan spent much of this period dealing, impressively, with Ballincollig breaks and also an awkward back pass by Jimmy O'Sullivan.


Keeper Greg almost came close to becoming a Leeside hero in the 3rd minute of injury time. Well out of his goal, he hit a neat ball over the top. Namesake Brian picked it up just inside the box but was stopped by a strong tackle and it was Martin O'Neill's men who took home the cup for a record fourth time.


Leeside: Greg O'Sullivan, Cathal Kelly, Colin Ahern, Jimmy O'Sullivan, Eddie O'Mahony (captain), Rory Ahern, Brian O'Sullivan, Kieran Murphy, Paul Hayes, Martin Buckley and Barry Brady. Subs used: Pat Barrett for Kelly (57) and Luke Hickey for Hayes (69).

Leeside: Owen Walsh, Matt O'Regan, Adrian Brady, John Kelleher, Trevor Brady, Pat Flanagan, Colin Weste, Jason O'Leary, Anthony Hogan (captain), Dave Kenny and Richard O’Brien. Subs:  Dave Sweeney for O'Leary (65), John McAlpine for Kenny (76) and Terry Coomey for Kelleher (85).

Referee: Sean Hegarty.


Ballincolligx Leesidex refereesx 

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