Blast from the Past
O'Mahony nets the winner as Leeside pip Coachford.
Pics: 11.05.2007
AOH CUP final
Coachford 0 Leeside 1
Lighting never strikes twice? Just don't ask Coachford. For the second year in succession, they lost 1-0 to a late late goal by Leeside in the final of the Murphy's Stout AOH Cup at Turner's Cross.
It looked like the game, much livelier than last season's decider between the pair, was heading for extra time when a Leeside corner came in from the right. For once the Coachford defence failed to deal with it and midfielder Ger O'Mahony bundled it home at the far post.
 |
| Leeside celebrate the winning goal |
While the attackers had their moments, it was defences that ruled last night at The Cross and both captains were outstanding. Paddy Martin played a stormer for Coachford and kept their back four on their toes.
At the other end, the AUL Oscar Traynor captain Jason Keegan had a very sound game and time and again won the aerial battles, particularly over the first hour against combative opponent James Graham.
 |
| Coachford lost AOH final for second year running |
Neither side could ever manage to get an edge in the midfield. Coachford's John Paul Heffernan in particular and Gary Murphy had their moments and from time to time Leeside's Joe Lyons, Mick Kenneally and the Gary McCarthy Man of the Match winner Colin Aherne mounted some slick passing moves.
 |
| Champions Leeside |
Coachford had the better of the opening exchanges and a few Martin frees proved troublesome for Leeside, particularly in the 5th minute when Leeside keeper Kieran Mullin got to the ball just ahead of Graham.
 |
| Ricky Gettings in charge |
Gradually, Leeside came more into it and Ricky Gettings was prominent in forcing a string of corners as the half reached midpoint but they all came to nothing.
The balance swung from one side to the other and Coachford were heartened by a mix-up between Leeside defender Conor O'Leary and keeper Mullins, a mix-up forced by hard work of Colm O'Grady. Grady indeed came close to an opening goal in the 36th minute but shot wide across the goal after good build-up play by Martin and Ruan Linehan.
Then Coachford keeper Ray Moynihan had to scramble, worried by a 19 yard shot on the turn by Keegan after a Leeside free had broken in the box. But the speeding ball was a few feet off target.
In first half injury time, a good spell of Leeside pressure ended with Kenneally heading across goal but the ball just eluded man of the match Ahern as he raced in at the far post.
Leeside from time to time were over elaborate as was illustrated in the 48th minute at a corner kick between Delea and Looney. They had a great chance to open their account in the 53rd minute when Derek Delea "dummied" an angled pass by Aherne. That allowed Kenneally a good run on goal but he shot wide, as a defender got back.
And the East Cork lads had another brilliant chance midway through, started by a quick well placed clearance by Keegan. He found Aherne who exchanged passes with Delea but spoiled it all by sliding the ball wide when well placed.
 |
| Ricky Gettings clears |
It was the kind of move though that Coachford could not replicate, the kind of football that maybe indicated that Leeside deserved to retain their crown.
They had Coachford worried again in the 68th minute. Then it was inter-league player Lyons who put Aherne in and only a panic reaction by Ciaran Lucey, which sent the ball screaming over the bar (it could well have been under it), saved Coachford.
But Leeside almost gave a goal away a few minutes later. Gary Murphy intercepted a square pass and raced in but, under pressure, shot straight at keeper Mullins.
Back at the other end, Delea pounced as keeper Moynihan parried but his shot on the turn hit the back of the post and went wide. Gettings then reached a Delea cross but his near post flick took the ball wide.
Leeside kept the proesure on and the reward came. In the 86th minute, Jason McCarthy played the ball up the right. Delea took it on and Ahern's cross was deflected for a corner. That led to another flag kick and O'Mahony grabbed the chance to poke home the 87th winner.
 |
| Ger Keegan, Leeside skipper, enjoys the moment! |
Coachford had a couple of frees, one leading to the other, deep into injury time but the second came off the wall and keeper Mullins grabbed it to end the danger and seconds later referee John Lyne, perhaps the calmest man on the field throughout, sounded the final whistle and Leeside had won the AOH for the second year in a row, their third success in all.
Coachford: Ray Moynihan, Darren Heffernan, Pat Martin (captain), Ken O'Donovan, Ciaran Lucey, James Graham, John Paul Heffernan, Noel O'Sullivan, Gary Murphy, Colm O'Grady and Ruan Linehan. Subs: Stephen Goulding, Keith Linzell, Dave Finnegan (for O'Grady 88 ), Aidan Buckley (for Graham 68) and Peter O'Riordan.
Leeside: Kieran Mullins, Jason McCarthy, Mick Looney, Conor O'Leary, Jason Keegan (captain), Mick Kenneally, Joe Lyons, Colin Aherne, Ricky Gettings, Derek Delea and Ger O'Mahony. Subs: Trevor O'Rourke, Mick Coughlan, Conor Hawes, Wayne Barrett and Jamie Barry.
Referee: John Lyne. Assistants: Pat Murphy and Gene Stephens. Fourth Official: Finbarr Murphy.
 |
| Heineken's Jim Cashman present the AOH to Keegan |
 |
| Man of the Match winner Colin Aherne |
End of story
Comments
Post a Comment