Blast from the Past 2008. Just one in it as Coachford win President's Cup final against scoreless Leeds

Blast from the Past. 

Just one in it as Coachford win President's Cup final against scoreless Leeds

Pics: 09.04.2008

Coachford players, mentors and mascots celebrate the winner. - President's Cup final, Turner's Cross, 09.04.08, Coachford 1 Leeds 0, Billy Lyons

PRESIDENT'S CUP FINAL

Coachford 1 Leeds 0

Coachford won the Murphy’s Stout President’s Cup as they turned in a spirited performance to defeat league rivals Leeds 1-0 in the final of this third division knockout comepetition at Turner’s Cross in mid week.

Champions Coachford

It was a tough game for the new champions. They started well but then came under pressure before finishing the second half strongly and taking the title with a brilliant late goal from midfielder Finbarr O’Sullivan.

Keeper David Moynihan, aside from one first quarter spillage, had an excellent game for the winners. Their back four played very well indeed and central defender Kenneth Hogan won the Garry McCarthy Man of the Match Award.

Leeds fought all the way

Skipper William Harrington played reasonably well in midfield but the player that caught the eye here for much of the game was the evergreen Darren O’Brien. He played in the 1995 final when Coachford last won the trophy. Mossie Mooney also lined out for Coachford in both finals while manager Donal Moynihan was the captain in 1995.

Leeds really left it after them in the first half. They will feel hard done by to see a free kick goal disallowed but they did have a penalty chance that was wasted. Coachford too came close in the first half: on the half-hour, a Hogan free kick hit the post.

Coachford's Olan Healy rises highest to pressure the Leeds defence.

Coachford had actually started very brightly. They were wound up at the start and they immediately went for the jugular. Indeed, they caused some early panic in the Leeds defence which was missing regular keeper James Fogarty.

But the early pressure soon dissipated and that gave Leeds the chance to get their act together and their good passing game began to stretch Coachford. Coachford keeper Moynihan was lucky in the 12th minute when he dropped a free by Gary Nolan but his colleagues reacted quickly to clear.

Heading on. Leeds midfielder Terence Buckley heads past Coachford's
William Harrington and Olan Healy (right)

The pressure stayed on and Leeds had the ball in the net when a free went all the way but the elaborate celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

Still Leeds piled on the pressure and, after a Johnny Cooney free had been scrambled off the line, they were awarded a spotter only for skipper Kevin McGee to fire it over off the bar.

No goal. Leeds celebrations after first half free kick "goal" were cut
short by an offside flag.

Exchanges evened out for a while and Coachford had their first serious attack for a while on the half hour and were awarded a free outside the box. Man of the Match Hogan let fly and hit a post. Keeper Stephen Nolan was well beaten and broke into a big smile as the ball bounced along the goal-line and into his hands.

Coachford could have ended the half with a goal but when a Hogan free broke in the box, Olan Healy shot straight at Nolan.

Tough station. Coachford's captain William Harrington (left)
battles with Mark Nolan.

Leeds started the second half the better but shots by David Buckley (blocked) and Gary Nolan (deflected off a colleague) failed to hit the target.

Both managers were making changes but still the deadlock continued. Midway through, impressive Leeds midfielder Terence Buckley won a good header in midfield and found Cooney who placed Mark Nolan for a shot that was very well saved.

And the city outfit came close again in the 71st minute, following a Cooney corner. Stephen Hegarty got in at the near post to flick it on with his head but the ball continued across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

Then Gary Nolan swung in a dangerous Leeds corner but keeper Moynihan responded well with an excellent tip-over save.

Coachford weren't having as many shots but their turn was coming. They came close to a spectacular winner in the 76th minute. Then another of Hogan’s well placed free kicks was half cleared. Sub Mark Armstrong met it just outside the box and his volley wasn't too far off the target.

The county side were now asking the questions and the Leeds defence were turned in the 80th minute. Then Joe Murphy played a neat ball over the top and John Murphy gave chase. Keeper Nolan left his line in a hurry and won the clash.

But there was no escape for Leeds in the very next minute. Then out of the blue and from 30 yards out, O’Sullivan let fly. His powerfully hit drive swerved and curled past the back-pedalling keeper and high into the net for a spectacular winner.

In fairness, Leeds went down fighting. With three minutes to go, sub Trevor Sheehan went quite close with a low drive after a free had been half-cleared. Two minutes later Hegarty, who had been up helping the attack for a while, freed Gary Nolan for a cross that fell to Terence Buckley but his 10 yard drive was blocked at close quarters.

Coachford: David Moynihan, Brian Buckley, Frank Bergin, Mossie Mooney (Mark Armstrong 58), Kenneth Hogan, Finbarr OíSullivan, Darren OíBrien, William Harrington captain, John Murphy (Kevin Finnegan 86), Olan Healy and Joe Murphy. Subs: Paul O’Driscoll, Joe Ronan and Michael Twomey.

Leeds: Stephen Nolan, Keith Molloy (David Dennehy 85), Richard Leahy, Kevin Murphy, Stephen Hegarty, Terence Buckley, Kevin McGee captain (Trevor Sheehan 62), David Buckley (Shane Kelly 78), Mark Nolan, Gary Nolan and Jonathan Cooney. Subs: Niall Murphy and Jeremy Cooney.

Referee: James O’Reilly. Assistants: Tom McCarthy and Brendan O’Regan.

End of story