Skipper Long spot on for Ballyphehane as they edge St Michael's final against Mayfield. Blast from the Past April 2006

on

Ballyphehane keeper Alan Crowley and skipper
Philip Long celebrate shootout win
Blast from the Past April 2006

Skipper Long spot on for Ballyphehane as they edge St Michael's final against Mayfield. 

Pics: 04.04.2006

ST MICHAEL'S CUP FINAL

Ballyphehane Celtic 1 Mayfield United 1

Ballyphehane won 5-4 on penalties.


Skipper Philip Long fired in the winning spotter as Ballyphehane Celtic pipped Mayfield United 5-4 on penalties after their Murphy’s Stout St Michael’s Cup final at Turner’s Cross last evening had ended at 1-1 after normal and extra time. It was the second final shootout loss in a row for the Mayfield lads, as last season, they were edged out by Ballintotis.


Mayfield had started the brighter but had nothing to show for it. Outstanding midfielder Trevor Ahern tested keeper Crowley with a long range drive in the 8th minute and the keeper held on well as did his opposite number Brian Ramsell when Celtic’s Jonathan Murphy tried a high hopeful lob that did have the setting sun behind it.

Referee Tom Tully, and his assistants Frank and Tony Murphy, with Mayfield skipper Niall 
O'Sullivan (left) and Ballyphehane's Philip Long


Ballyphehane enjoyed a good spell midway through the first half and full back Joe Ryan was twice involved as they cut the United defence apart but his final header was just cut out before it could reach Alan O'Mahony.


Mayfield regained the initiative and Ahern was twice off target in quick succession. First he pounced on a Ryan error but drove wide and two minutes later closed on a back header by Graham Payne but the volley was too high, both efforts from well outside the box.

Ballyphehane Celtic


Mayfield suffered a blow when Payne, injured earlier, limped out of the action in the 27th minute and a big blow less than two minutes to the break when they conceded a penalty.


Referee Tom Tully ruled that Sean Madden had clattered into the back of Eric Dunlea as they both went for a dropping ball and full back Ryan came up to score past Ramsell.

Mayfield Utd


Celtic looked confident after the break and came raiding for a second. In the 11th minute, Dunlea cut inside after a throw by Danny Long but shot over. Then, after a Wayne Hogan pass and a Trevor Dunlea lay-off, Long himself went close with a pile-driver.


Alan O'Mahony volleyed too high off a Murphy cross and then came much closer with a 59th minute header from a Hogan free. Mayfield, despite the best efforts of Ahern and sub Murphy, were getting nothing on target and there was some disappointingly wild shooting from Ian Saville and Ian Wills.

Danny Long (left) and Mayfield's Ian Saville


As the full time whistle approached, Ballyphehane manager Dave O’Mahony put on his subs. Even then they had a chance to clinch it. That came in the 88th minute and followed good work by Eric Dunlea and sub Wayne Dunlea but Alan O'Mahony put his close range effort over the top.


And that miss kept Mayfield in touch and they drew level in the final minute. Then a Conor Lehane effort broke loose close to goal and young Burns pounced to take the tie to extra time. 


Neither side could score in the extra 20 minutes and so to the shootout where keeper Crowley and skipper Long would do the business for the southsiders.



Ballyphehane Celtic: Alan Crowley, Joe Ryan, Wayne Hogan, Philip Long (captain), David Bennett, Danny Long, Trevor Dunlea, Eric Dunlea, Alan O’Mahony, Jonathan Murphy and Johnny Towler. Subs: Wayne Dunlea for Towler (84th), David O’Mahony for Murphy (86th), Michael Lee for W. Dunlea (90th minute, injured), Kevin Ward and Damien Farrelly.

Mayfield United: Brian Ramsell, Ger O’Mahony, Johnny Buckley, Paul Keegan, San Madden, Niall O’Sullivan (captain), Graham Payne, Conor Lehane, Ian Wills, Trevor Ahern and Ian Saville. Subs: Daniel Molzberger, Ian Murphy for Payne (27th minute, injured), Kevin Ramsell, Killian Burns for Ahern (78th) and Ray O'Mahony.

Referee: Tom Tully; assistants: Frank and Tony Murphy.

Ballyphehane full back Joe Ryan on the ball as Niall O'Sullivan closes in

Mayfield's Johnny Buckley blocks pass by Jonathan Murphy (left). 

Ballyphehane's Philip Long (left) and Trevor Ahern. 




Comments

Post a Comment