Blast from the Past 2008. Rylane grab Saxone Cup with shootout win over Waterloo.

Blast from the Past 2008. 

Rylane grab Saxone Cup with shootout win over Waterloo. 

Pics: 01.04.08 Turners Cross

Rylane players pounce on keeper Ian O'Sullivan, following shootout win. Saxone Cup final, Turner's

 Cross, Rylane Celtic 0 Waterloo 0, Rylane won 4-3 on pens, 01.04.08, Pics: Billy Lyons

 

SAXONE CUP FINAL

Rylane Celtic 0 Waterloo Celtic 0

(Rylane won 4-3 on penalties)

Rylane Celtic won the Murphy's Stout Saxone Cup final for the first time when they defeated neighbours Waterloo 4-3 on penalties after last evening's final at Turner's Cross ended scoreless.

Rylane finished the game the stronger and should have taken it in extra time, particularly in the first period, but they had to wait for the shootout when two saves by keeper Ian O'Sullvan, who had opened the penalties with a well taken spotter, sparked wild celebrations.

Rylane's John Kelleher, their captain, took the Gary McCarthy Man of the Match Award as their night ended on a high. Waterloo promised much in the first quarter but failed to deliver either then or later though only a five save by O'Sullivan in the 61st minute stopped them taking the lead, just four minutes after a Mattie O'Leary header had bounced off the Waterloo post.

Waterloo had the better of the opening quarter and had a string of shots. Most though were off target. O'Sullivan did drop a long range effort from Dan Cronin in the 19th minute but there was no one near.

Waterloo's Brian McSweeney outjumps a bunch of Rylane players.

Waterloo's Brian Deasy (left) and Connie Lucey.  

Waterloo's Brian McSweeney and Man of the Match John Kelleher

Rylane keeper Ian O'Sullivan races past referee Pat McAuliffe (RIP) after his shootout heroics.

"Keep the tempo up," demanded Waterloo manager Terence McCarthy. But his team failed to do that and the second quarter was evenly contested with both teams cancelling each other out.

The second half was of better quality and certainly livened up when that O'Leary header off a ball forward by Connie Lucey came back off the Waterloo post.

Waterloo had their best chance a few minutes later, thanks to a ball in by their man of the match Brian McSweeney. The Rylane defence and keeper got their wires crossed and Cronin nudged the ball right to Ross Lynch but O'Sullivan got back to make a spectacular mid-air save. The resultant corner led to a massive scramble but Cronin's shot was well cleared.

Rylane then put the pressure on but the Waterloo defence, well led by veteran Dinny Hegarty, held firm. They were nearly undone though in the 81st minute when a free kick by Kelleher was just ahead of the diving James Honohan.

Rylane had a pronounced edge in extra time and should have taken the lead six minutes in. Paul O'Rourke ran powerfully up the right and got to the end-line before pulling a low cross back across goal and into the path of Aidan Corkery who didn't make sufficient contact and keeper Brian O'Mahony, who played well, made the save at close quarters.

Three minutes later, O'Rourke had a great chance to get a winner but his close range header from a Kelleher free kick went over the bar. They had the best chance of the second period, following a Corkery corner. O'Rourke helped the ball into the danger area but an overhead effort by sub Peter Kelleher bounced wide of the far post.

Waterloo lose on spotters

Referee Pat McAuliffe (centre) and Assistants: Jimmy Haines (left) and Denis Daly,
along with captains Denis Hegarty  (Waterloo, 2nd right) and  Rylane's John Kelleher (2nd left)

Rylane Celtic, the Saxone champions for 2007/09

Waterloo's Brian McSweeney (left) and Mark O'Brien. 

O'Sullivan began the shootout with a confidently taken spotter against opposite number O'Mahony but things took a turn for the worse for Rylane in the second exchange when sub Niall Buckley saw his shot go wide off the post.

Keeper O'Sullivan though came to the rescue when he saved with his legs from Brian Deasy and then followed that up with a good stop from Waterloo skipper Hegarty to give his side the second division knockout trophy on a 4-3 count.

Rylane Celtic: Ian O'Sullivan, Tony Blighe, James Honohan, Alan O'Brien, Colm Desmond, John Kelleher captain, Connie Lucey, Aidan Corkery, Mark O'Brien (Niall Buckley at half-time), Paul O'Rourke and Mattie OíLeary (Peter Kelleher 80) Subs: Michael Lyons, David O'Leary and Fergus O'Mullane.

Waterloo: Brian O'Mahony, Ken Burns, Brian Linehan, Denis Hegarty captain, Damien Desmond, Ken O'Leary (Trevor Bowen 72), Brian  McSweeney, Brian Deasy, Ross Lynch (Steve O'Regan 105), Garry Timothy (Denis John O'Mahony 79) and Dan Cronin. Subs: Robert Timothy and Steve O'Flynn.

Referee: Pat McAuliffe. Assistants: Jimmy Haines and Denis Daly.