Blast from the Past 2007. Macroom outgun Grattan in President's Cup decider.

Blast from the Past 2007. 

Macroom outgun Grattan in President's Cup decider.

Pics 06.05.2007

PRESIDENT'S CUP FINAL

Grattan United 1 Macroom 3

The men in the middle (l to r): Paul O'Sullivan, Denis Daly, referee Paul O'Sullivan and John Gaffney.

Grattan's Paul Lynch (right) watched by Red Kirby

Make no mistake about it. Macroom fully deserved their 3-1 victory over Grattan United on Sunday's night's Murphy's Stout President's Cup final at Turner's Cross. The county side dominated exchanges from the start and were three up before Grattan rallied but that determined effort produced just one goal and it was well short of being enough.

Macroom could well have a double completed by the weekend as they are favourites to lift the championship in AUL 3A. Player-manager Ronan has a very young and exciting squad but he led by example on Sunday. 

He fired in the opening goal and defended well, particularly when Grattan threatened in the closing stages and he was a worthy winner of the Gary McCarthy Man of the Match award.

Grattan Utd

Keeper Mark Twohig kept a good goal for the winners and the back four were solid throughout. Mike Cahill's running and his aerial ability gave them a pronounced edge in midfield and young Patrick Burns was sharp and incisive upfront.

Macroom's Mike Cahill outjumps Christy Walsh

Grattan had little answer to their conquerors but their cause wasn't helped by the fact that they were short skipper Barry O'Rourke. Interestingly, neither captain started the game. O'Rourke, who got married on Saturday, was injured in the warm-up (to the match!) while his counterpart Kevin Sheehan didn't make an appearance until midway through the second half. Sheehan though played a key role in front of the back four and helped take the sting out of Grattan's revival.

Grattan's Steve Gostel tries the overhead route.

Macroom took the initiative from the start and forced Grattan to concede quite a few free kicks and corners. Ronan was taking all the long range frees and causing trouble with his deliveries. In the 13th minute, one of his balls broke behind the backs and Grattan keeper Graham O'Connor was quick and brave as a posse of attackers came with the ball.

Macroom, the champions

Ronan then had a free closer to goal but drove well over before Burns pounced on a defensive error but his shot spun wide. Grattan's first effort on goal came in the 18th minute when a low drive by Alan O'Riordan had Mark Twohig scrambling.

Macroom skipper Kevin Sheehan receives the Murphy's Stout President's Cup final from the AUL's Tom Fitzgerald. Murphy's Stout President's Cup final, Turner's Cross, 06.05.07, Grattan Utd 1 Macroom 3, Pics: Billy Lyons

Generally though the traffic was in the direction of the Grattan goal and that continued even when Macroom lost Barry Fitzgerald to injury in the 30th minute. Macroom were awarded another free in the 37th minute and this time Ronan powered a 40-yard rocket to the top corner to open their account.

Macroom's Pat Kelleher (right) takes on Christy Walsh

Ronan though had an anxious moment in the 41st minute when Jonathan Hennessy passed him in the box only to shoot straight at the keeper. Grattan's best chance came in the 44th minute. Then Paul Lynch headed a fee back across goal but Hennessy's header was off target.

A Grattan comeback was predicted for the second half but Macroom scored their second after ninety seconds when Burns sent Shane Murphy in to drive one past the keeper at the near post.

And the winners hit their third in the 61st minute. Burns gained possession, spotted the run of Red Kirby and instantly released the ball ahead of the runner. Kirby's low cross eluded the keeper and sub Brian Horgan raced in at the far post to slam the ball in.

Grattan put defender Lynch upfront for the final quarter and he was very close with a header in the 67th minute. They scored in the next minute when Gostel drove through a crowded box after a corner had been half cleared.

The city side tried and tried but Ronan was in a mean mood. He won virtually every ball hat came in by air. And he showed he was no slouch on the deck either, making brilliantly timed penalty box challenges, both on Gostel, in the 83rd and 87th minutes. A goal for Grattan would have ensured an anxious finish but Ronan and company weren't having any of it and ran out deserving winners.

Grattan United: Graham O'Connor, Graham Waters, Owen Kiely, Paul Lynch, Gavin O'Mahony, Trevor Rodgers, Alan O'Riordan, Christy Walsh, Stephen Gostel, Jonathan Hennessy, and David Burns. Subs: Gavin O'Sullivan, Graham Forde, John O'Riordan, Christy Kelly and Paul Downey.

Macroom: Mark Twohig, Mark O'Callaghan, Pat Kelleher, Robbie Kirby, John Ronan, Ger McCarthy, Mike Cahill, Shane Murphy, Barry Fitzgerald, Red Kirby and Patrick Burns. Subs: Tim Murphy, Kevin Sheehan, Brian Horgan, Shane Pearce and Shane O'Brien.

Referee: Paul O'Sullivan. Assistants: Denis Daly and John Gaffney.