Blast from the Past.
May 2005.
Coachford edge out Mayfield in AOH Cup final
Coachford
AOH CUP FINAL
Coachford 1 Mayfield United 0
Coachford won the Murphy’s Stout AOH Cup for the second time when they defeated underdogs Mayfield United 1-0 in the final at Turner’s Cross last evening. But how the county side, who failed to reproduce the sparkling form displayed in the semi-final in over Village, rode their luck.
Gallant Mayfield hit the post in the first half, fell behind to a poacher’s goal less than a minute later, went on to dominate the second half but were again denied by the timber and by a superb close range save from Coachford keeper Peter O’Riordan.
Mayfield United
Mayfield’s Dave Kenny had the first shot on target. That came in the 10th minute, after good work by midfielder Adrian Saville, but the 30-yard drive was straight at O’Riordan.
Coachford, with Ken O’Donovan in terrific form, particularly in the air, kept a pretty firm grip on the Mayfield strikers during the first quarter before showing as an attacking force themselves midway through.
Coachford skipper Paddy Martin receives the cup
In the 23rd minute, young John Hoagan’s free landed on the roof of the net with Mayfield keeper Brian Ramsell scrambling across and looking anxious.
The game turned on two incidents in the 30th minute. Then Mayfield’s Alan Kelly set strike partner Kenny up for a shot from outside the box. It flew past O’Riordan and rattled the post. The ball then fell to Saville but his shot was blocked in the box.
Coachford cleared quickly and the Mayfield central defenders should have dealt with O’Donovan’s hopeful high ball through the middle. But they got their signals mixed. Suddenly David Finnegan was clear and the Golden Boot contender showed his finishing skills with a well judged chip over the advancing Ramsell.
Man of the Match! Coachford's Darren O'Brien
Finnegan had another chance in the 41st minute, again served up by uncertain defending against a long ball, this by defender Paddy Martin, but this time the finish was one to forget and Ramsell had no bother in grabbing the shot.
In between, Kenny also had an opportunity, again after good combination between himself and Kelly but this time his 30-yard effort was far too high.
Mayfield took over in the second half and, three minutes in, a long free by keeper Ramsell was headed back out by O’Donovan but straight to Trevor Ahern whose volley was too high.
Ahern was seen to much better effect in the 56th minute. His quickly taken free kick from the left fond Kelly at the far post but, while he comfortably outjumped the scrambling defenders, he put too much slice on his glancing header.
Mayfield kept coming forward. John Warren’s free landed in the box and broke to Sean madden but his volley too was high. Madden was denied by a superb close range save in the next minute, O’Riordan reacting magnificently after a Kenny corner had been headed down by Mick Brosnan to Ahern whose shot was deflected to give Madden the six yard chance.
Coachford did have a couple of decent efforts midway through. In the 67th minute, Hogan showed great control at the corner of the box before testing Ramsell with a speeding drive that was well parried and soon afterwards the Mayfield keeper saved well from Ruan Linehan’s 20 yarder.
Mayfield kept pressing for that elusive equaliser but Lady Luck wasn't on their side. In the 81st minute, a Mayfield free dropped in the box. Madden made a nuisance of himself and his pressure saw the ball drop to sub Ray Atkins. His shot looked good for the roof of the net but instead went over off the bar.
Coachford played sensibly enough in the remaining minutes and Mayfield’s frustrations were underlined when they had a player sent off with just over a minute to go.
The Murphy’s Stout Man of the Match Award went to Coachford’s all action midfielder Darren O'Brien who was here there and everywhere and made some vital clearances and interceptions, particular when the pressure was on in the second half.
Coachford: Peter O’Riordan, Ruan Linehan, Paddy Martin (captain), Ken O’Donovan, Ciaran Lucey, Darren O'Brien, John Hogan, Paddy Doherty, Colm O’Grady, David Finnegan and Steven Goulding. Subs used: Barry Kiely for Doherty (50th minute), Damien O’Leary for O’Grady (69th) and Niall Buckley for Goulding (85th).
Mayfield Utd: 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: Raymond Atkins for Ahern (75th minute) and Niall O’Sullivan for Warren (83rd).
Referee: Denis Crowley; assistants – Pat Murphy and Ken Hennessy; fourth official – Tony Murphy.
end of story
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