Blast from the Past.
City Cup specialists Ballyvolane do it again at The Cross, beating local rivals Glen Celtic 3-1 in 2006/7 final.
Photos 28th May 2007
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| Referee Finbarr Murphy, with assistants Denis Donovan (left) and Paul O'Sullivan, meet the captains, Glen's John Long (right) and Paul O'Keeffe. |
CITY CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
Ballyvolane 3 Glen Celtic 1
Holders Ballyvolane, the City Cup specialists, did it again last night at Turner's Cross when Tony O'Donnell's charges scored a well deserved 3-1 win over local first division rivals Glen Celtic in this season's final.
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| Ballyvolane. Champions again |
The Glen were playing in their first ever final and it showed. They were all dash and enthusiasm in the first half. Ballyvolane struck first but the Glen came back and deserved to be level at the break.
But the second half was a different story for the rookie finalists. They went behind to a stunning goal and their frustration showed when they had a man sent off. Ballyvolane stayed cool after that and increased their lead. The Glen had the chance of an injury time consolation but player-manager Brendan Long saw his penalty shot saved.
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| Extra time break for the winners |
It could well have been a different tale. The turning point came two minutes into the second half when Patrick Mooney-Long skilfully jinked his way through the heart of the Ballyvolane defence and let fly for the top corner only to see Hurley made a brilliant save.
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| Glen's Piotr Sekula stretches to control, under pressure from James Burke (left). |
Ballyvolane midfielder Keith Keane showed all his experience as he set up the opening goal in the 15th minute; he collected the breaking ball after a long free in and sent it diagonally over the back-line and into the path of Paul Galvin who volleyed a beauty past isolated keeper Ken Kiely.
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| Ballyvolane celebrate Timmy Kelly's stunning goal. |
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| Ballyvolane back Timmy Kelly goes highest to head clear. |
In the 33rd minute, Glen defender Ross Harris left a back pass short and the busy and influential Steve Hackett raced onto it but keeper Kiely reacted brilliantly and got down at the raider's feet.
The second half began with that brilliant Hurley save before Ballyvolane regained the lead with a stunning 59th minute strike by full back Timmy Kelly. The ball was returned to him, after his right wing corner, and he volleyed a beauty high past Kiely and into the far corner.
Glen had their man sent off, a straight red, in the 66th minute. Keeper Hurley mixes the sublime with the ridiculous and got caught in possession in the 70th minute but managed to knock the ball way from Shaw's challenge.
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| Ballyvolane's Darren Lynch (left) and Patrick Mooney-Long |
Ballyvolane scored the insurance goal in the 73rd minute. Glen keeper Kiely rushed to clear but his ball found Man of the Match Galvin on the right. Galvin could have tried for the empty goal himself but instead sent a pin point cross to sub John Magnier whose brilliant header gave back-pedalling defenders no chance at all.
Glen kept going and Shaw had a downward header from a corner tipped over by Hurley but Ballyvolane were dangerous on the break and, in the 79th minute, the raiding Mangier hit a post.
The final action came in injury time with Hurley adding to his reputation with another fine penalty save which in turn led to the second Glen sending off.
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| Ballyvolane's Adrian McDonnell (left) and Brendan Long tussle. |
Ballyvolane: Shane Burley, James Burke, Timmy Kelly, Paul O'Keeffe (captain), Cormac Long, Keith Keane, Paul Galvin, Dave Buckley, Steve Hackett, Shane Brady and Darren Lynch. Subs: Roy Kelly, Adrian McDonnell, John Magnier, Liam O'Riordan and Philip Murphy.
Glen Celtic: Ken Kiely, John Long (captain), Pat O'Leary, John Murphy, Ross Harris, Patrick Mooney-Long, Tomas Kelleher, Danny Joyce, Paul Monahan, Brendan Long and Michael Shaw. Subs: Chris Conroy, William Kiely, Piotr Sekula, Billy Long and Sean Dwyer.
Referee: Finbarr Murphy. Assistants: Denis Donovan and Paul O'Sullivan.
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