Blast from the Past. Butsana saves stymie Ballincollig as Watergrasshill take 2008 County Cup on pens.

Blast from the Past. 

Butsana saves stymie Ballincollig as Watergrasshill take County Cup on pens.

Date: 01.06.2008

COUNTY CUP FINAL

Ballincollig 0 Watergrasshill United 0

Watergrasshill won 4-3 on penalties.

Keeper Aime Butsana was the shootout hero for Watergrasshill United as they claimed the Murphy's Stout County Cup for the first time with a 4-3 penalty win over Ballincollig after last night's final at Turner's Cross had ended without a goal.

Watergrasshill's Kieran Coakley rushed off his feet after scoring decisive penalty in Co Cup final

There were some good chances in a lively first half. Ballincollig, who lost the Corinthians Cup final here a couple of weeks back, were on top in the opening period and created most of the scoring opportunities.

The Hill relied more on the pace of the pair upfront and they also had their chances, though nowhere near as many. Still each team missed one gilt edged opportunity. The second half wasn't as open and chances became scarce.

Second shootout save by Aime Butsana (above), first save below.

Extra time failed to break the deadlock and so to spotters. Butsana saved two and it was left to impressive substitute Kieran Coakley to hammer in the clinching kick to start the celebrations.

The Hill played to the front two of Dorgan and Moleli in the first half and twice in the opening minutes Dorgan bothered the Ballincollig defence. Ballincollig were getting in shots more regularly but the early efforts all lacked power.

Pre-match L to r, Thomas Long, Ballincollig captain Bryan McNulty, referee Brendan O'Regan, Watergrasshill captain Kieran Foley and Pat McAuliffe. County Cup final, Turner's Crosss, 1st June 2008, Ballincollig 0 Watergasshill Utd 0 , WGH won 4-3 on pens., Billy Lyons 

The first big test for Butsana came in the 14th minute when Ballincollig skipper McNulty showed neat control before letting fly from the edge of the box and the keeper got down well to his right to save.

Watergrasshill's Kieran Foley receives the County Cup
from the AUL's Denis O'Driscoll. 

Butsana was beaten in the 19th minute but O'Keeffe's side footed effort after a knock-on by McNulty spun just wide and then outstanding Ballincollig full back Dave Bowen had a shot blocked at close quarters after a corner broke.

The first of the big misses came in the 29th minute. Then Moleli broke up the right and got to the end line. He pulled the ball back. Maybe it was slightly behind Dorgan but, in any event, with the defence at sixes and sevenses, he turned the ball wide.

Watergrasshill celebrate

There was big let-off for Butsana in the 40th minute. He failed to hold a low free by O'Callaghan but a surprised McNulty was unable to turn the loose ball home and the keeper got down on it. In the next minute, McNulty's far post header, from a narrow angle, was straight at the keeper.

Watergrasshill's Johnny Dorgan

Watergrasshill played much better after the break but, ironically, the contest deteriorated as a result as both sides found space hard to come by.

Ballincollig came close in the first period of extra time. In the 2nd minute, a vicious swerving shot by Bowen was eventually well held by Butsana who then did well to advance quickly to stop McNulty capitalising on a header-on by sub Darren Forde.

The best chance of the second period was created by the Hill. O'Regan and Daly combined and Dorgan headed into the box but the incoming Moroney drove wide.

Butsana saved the first spotter but Ballincollig keeper John Moynihan matched him. Butsana saved again in the third exchange and Moleli scored to give Hill a 2-1 lead. All the rest were scored and that final kick by Coakley gave Hill the trophy on a 4-3 count.

Ballincollig: John Moynihan, Dave Bowen, John Lawlor (Conor Cunningham 108), Rob Quinn (Paul O'Donovan 97), Conor Farrell, Stuart Collins, Gary Foulkes, Dave McCarthy, Bryan McNulty captain, Eoghan O'Keeffe (Darren Forde 65) and Gavin O'Callaghan. Subs: Chris Kelly and Ian Goggin.

Watergrasshill Utd: Aime Butsana, Michael O'sullivan, Kieran Foley captain, Aimable Mukomeza (Gavin Daly 65), Edward O'Connell, Pa Moroney, Paddy O'Regan, Quattara Abdoulaye (Kieran Coakley 48), Jacob Moleli, Eddie Moynihan (Morgan Foley 97) and Johnny Dorgan. Subs: Moss O'Keeffe and Mohammad Adam.

Referee: Brendan O'Regan. Assistants: Pat McAuliffe and Thomas Long.

THE MANAGERS

"It was hard work but we got there in the end," said a relieved Watergrasshill manager Neilus O'Mahony. Fair play to Ballincollig, they had us under the cosh for half an hour of the first half but we sorted a few things out and it was even going by half time. Our keeper was outstanding and, if I had my way, he'd have got Man of the Match.î

"The work and effort of the team has been outstanding all season, couldn't ask for any more out of them. We have a good mix, some old, some very young, Gavin Daly there, just gone sixteen and Moss O'Keeffe in his 40s."

"It is a great trophy for such a young club, just formed in 2004, and hopefully it is the beginning of many for us. Our best tonight were definitely Amie the keeper, and probably Jacob upfront, Eddie in the middle of the park and Kieran Coakley.î"

Ballincollig's Eoin Fehily, who manages the team with Conor Cunningham, was naturally disappointed but looked on the bright side as well. 

"I felt we deserved more from it tonight. We missed clear-cut chances, particularly in the first half. Bryan McNulty missed two terrific opportunities but you can'st hold that against him, he is our leading scorer. You need the luck of the draw in penalties and we came out on the wrong side."

"Rob Quinn, who was outstanding in the back, and young John Lawlor, also at the back, were perhaps our best on the night."

"I think we're haunted at this venue. But we wanted to win the league at the start of the year. We did that and we're delighted to be playing Premier football next season."

"We've had a good season but we are disappointed to lose the two finals at The Cross, our last two games of the year. Despite that, it has been a successful year.

COUNTY CUP

1970-71: Crosshaven Utd (Bandon); 1971-72: St John Bosco's (Inniscarra); 1972-73: Clonakilty (Hibernians); 1973-74: Crosshaven (Coachford); 1974-75: Crosshaven (Brideview); 1975-76: Ballincollig  (Carrigaline Utd); 1976-77: Cobh Ramblers (Fr Murphy's YC); 1977-78: Ballincollig  (Fermoy); 1978-79: Not completed; petrol shortage; 1979-80: Ballincollig  (Carrigaline Utd); 1980-81: Carrigaline Utd   (Ard-na-Laoi); 1981-82: Carrigaline Utd  (Farnanes); 1982-83: Brideview Utd  (Mallow Utd); 1983-84: Buttevant (Carrigtwohill); 1984-85: Mallow Utd  (Ballincollig Ath.); 1985-86: Waterloo (Killowen); 1986-87: St John Bosco's   (Passage); 1987-88: Castle Celtic (Ballincollig Utd); 1988-89: Blarney Utd (Bandon); 1989-90: Bandon (Leeside); 1990-91: Leeside (Coachford); 1991-92: Brooklodge Utd (Corkbeg); 1992-93: Corkbeg  (Brooklodge Utd); 1993-94: Leeside (Kinsale); 1994-95: Castle Celtic (Blarney Utd); 1995-96: Ard-na-Laoi  (Killumney Utd); 1996-97: Leeside  (Brooklodge Ath.); 1997-98: Hill Celtic (St John Bosco's B); 1998-99: Ballinhassig (Ballincollig); 1999/2000: Kinsale (Richmond); 2000/2001: not played due to foot and mouth crisis; 2001/2002: Passage B (Millstreet Celtic); 2002/2003: Kanturk (Blarney Utd B); 2003/04: Ballincollig (Leeside); 2004/05: Park Utd (Kanturk); 2005/6 Springfield (Ballincollig); Knockavilla Celtic (Passage).

End of story