Blast from the Past.
April 2005.
Mayfield cup hopes flounder on Ballintotis rock.
St Michael's Cup final
Ballintotis 2 Mayfield Utd 2
(Ballintotis win 5-4 on penalties.)
Full report below
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| Ballintotis secretary and founder Gerry Smyth congratulates Sean Carr, a 24 year veteran with the team. St Michael's Cup final, Turner's Cross, 24.04.05-- Billy Lyons |
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| Eyes down. Mayfield's Sean Madden (left) and Dave O'Brien. St Michael's Cup final, Turner's Cross, 24.04.05 |
ST MICHAEL’S CUP FINAL
Ballintotis 2 Mayfield United 2
(Ballintotis won 5-4 on penalties, after extra time)
When Sunday night’s St Michael’s Cup final at Turner’s Cross went to spotters, the Ballintotis management knew just what to do. They gave the keeper’s jersey to Diarmuid O’Sullivan. After all, that tactic had worked in the semi-final win over Northvilla.
But Mayfield weren't fazed and Ray Atkins, the smallest player on the field, blasted the opening spotter past O’Sullivan. And the other Mayfield players followed suit.
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| Pre-final at the Cross (l to r): assistant referee Ken Hennessey, Ballintotis skipper Willie O'Brien, referee Pat Murphy, Mayfield captain Paul Keegan and assistant referee Keith Callanan. -- Billy Lyons |
Ballintotis were also rattling them in and it was 4-4 with one regulation exchange to go. Up stepped Mayfield skipper Paul Keegan. O’Sullivan dived to his right and saved.
A huge cheer from the large Ballintotis support and then the hushed realisation that they could win their first cup in 24 years with the very next kick. Who was going to take it? Why wasn’t anyone walking up to the spot?
No need. The was already there. “Sully” was whipping off the keeper’s gloves, placing the ball in the spot. His left footed lash gave keeper Brian Ramsell no chance.
Suddenly the keeper’s jersey, borrowed a few moments ago, was tossed in the night air and the bare chested local hero raced to the sideline as the crowd threatened to collectively tumble down the seats, such was the thrill of victory, the desire to touch the match winner.
O’Sullivan barely made it to the perimeter, touching maybe a few of the straining fingers before he suddenly buried by his colleagues, a happy man at the bottom of a happy heaving heap.
Amazing scenes and amazing too how victory can energise even the most tired bodies. O’Sullivan had been a key player for much of the first half but for an hour of this exciting two hour encounter he was just hanging in there, the sprit willing, the flesh understandably weak, considering his exertions down the park a few hours earlier.
But Ballintotis aren't a one man team and they fought to a man to stay in game that Mayfield looked like winning until Ballintotis scored their second equaliser with less than two minutes of normal time to go.
Many neutrals would have wanted to see Ballintotis win this one but Mayfield weren't about to oblige and scored a stunning goal in the 9th minute, Adrian Saville spectacularly on target from outside the box after great work by front-runners Dave Kenny and Alan Kelly.
Skipper Willie O'Brien came close for Ballintotis before O’Sullivan equalised in the 27th minute. The big man finally got the pass he wanted and raced away from his marker to crash the ball past the advancing Ramsell.
A top drawer free kick by Trevor Ahern put Mayfield back in front in the 36th minute. There didn't seem that much danger when the ball was placed some thirty yards , maybe more, from goal, but the light frame of Ahern packs a mighty punch and O'Mahony could hardly believe it as the ball soared in over his head.
And a lucky escape for O'Mahony and company just two minutes later. This time, the keeper managed to parry Ahern’s free but could only watch as Madden pounced to roll it past him. Mayfield celebrations though were cut short by an offside decision.
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| Ballintotis never gave up |
The second half was not as exciting. Ballintotis did most of the pressing but created little by way of clear-cut chances. Mayfield had their moments and almost scored in the 83rd minute when scorer Saville released brother Ian for a dangerous low cross that was well taken by O’Mahony.
Ballintotis realised that time was running and upped the tempo, Mayfield lucky to survive a hectic scramble following a corner by Willie O'Brien. With three minutes to go, O’Brien exchanged passes with Diarmuid O’Sullivan but couldn't get a shot in.
Time was fast running out but there was still enough of it for a smashing equaliser. Declan Ryan crossed from the right and the clearance came back to him. He made ground towards the box and let fly and his low shot curled past the nearby defenders and flew low into Ramsell’s right hand corner.
Each side had a chance in the first period of extra time. Kelly crossed and Atkinson headed the ball back to Adrian Saville but his powerful strike found O'Mahony in the right place.
Then Ballintotis sub Paudie O’Sullivan did well to beat the defence to a right wing cross but turned the ball wide of the far stick. Nothing much in the second period and so to penalties where O’Sullivan's double, the save and the winner, will go down in folklore.
Ballintotis: Pakie O’Mahony, Paul Foley, Donal O’Sullivan, Anthony McDonnell, Anthony Archer, Paul Barry, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Sean Carr, Declan Ryan, Dave O'Brien and Willie O'Brien (captain). Subs used: Eoin O’Sullivan for D. O'Brien (63rd minute), Brian Behan for Carr (71st) and Paudie O’Sullivan for Donal O’Sullivan (81st).
Mayfield United: Brian Ramsell, John Warren Ger Forde, Paul Keegan (captain), Mick Brosnan, Adrian Saville, Brian Atkinson, Sean Madden, Alan Kelly, Dave Kenny and Trevor Ahern. Subs used: Ian Saville for Ahern (81st minute, injured), Ray Atkins for Kenny (86th) and Noel O'Brien for Atkinson (half-time in extra time).
Referee: Pat Murphy.
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| The Mayfield team. St Michael's Cup final, Turner's Cross -- Billy Lyons |
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| Ballintotis captain Willie O'Brien (Left) receives the St Michael's Cup from the AUL's Tony Chambers. St Michael's Cup final, Turner's Cross, 24.04.05, Ballintotis 2 Mayfield Utd 2, Ballintotis won 5-4 on pens. -- Billy Lyons |
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| Sean Carr in action for the winners |
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