Blast from the Past. Carrigtwohill outgun Watergrasshill in 2009 St Michael's Cup final.

Blast from the Past. 

Carrigtwohill outgun Watergrasshill in 2009 St Michael's Cup final.

Pics taken 10.04.2009

St Michael's Cup final

Carrigtwohill Utd 2 Watergrasshill Utd 1

Carrig's Noel Furlong tumbles after clash with Kieran Foley (left).

Outstanding midfielder Noel Furlong volleyed in the 82nd minute winner as Carrigtwohill United retained their Murphy's Stout St Michael's Cup title at Turners Cross last night by defeating a game but limited Watergrasshill Utd.

No doubt but that the better team won this first division knockout championship but the issue was in doubt right up to the end as injury hit Watergrasshill battled hard. They took heart from a fantastic show of skill, stamina and sprit by midfielder Paddy O'Regan.

He was up against it in that sector as Carrig were outstanding here. Furlong made one and scored one, Leonard Healy took the Garry McCarthy Man of the Match Award, Stephen Dineen ran him close while Dave Barry played well all through and unhinged the Hill defence for the winner.

McSweeney opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Then he took on a precise though ball by Furlong and his flashing drive from the edge of the box gave the big keeper no chance.

Carrig retain the Michael's Cup.

Paddy O'Regan equalises for Watergrasshill.

Carrig's passing regularly stretched the Hill defence and they put one of their best moves together in the 32nd minute. A combination of passes got McSweeney in on the right. He moved it on to the willing Kidney who made the end line and then pulled it back. But the ball was slightly behind the incoming Furlong and his shot wasn't the strongest and Butsana saved well.

Three minutes later following a Carrig throw-in, McSweeney sent a terrific pass to Furlong as Kidney's decoy run took away the cover. It was one on one but Butsana got a strong hand down to stop the shot and O'Regan and then John O'Keeffe tidied up.

It was all Carrig now but the fragility of the one goal lead was illustrated in the 37th minute when Hill captain Kieran Foley sent a long ball over the top for centre-forward Johnny Dorgan to chase. But keeper Kidney was on alert and raced out quickly to knock the ball away before the striker could do any damage.

Carrig's Steve Dineen beats Paddy O'Regan to the ball. 

Leonard Healy, off to Kosovo next week with the army, receives his Gary McCarthy Man of the the Match 

Carrig's Ian O'Donoghue closes on Pa Moroney (right).

Normal service was soon resumed and, in the 42nd minute, Kidney's volley after a pin point long diagonal pass by Kennedy flew off John O'Keeffe and out for a corner which was well punched away by the keeper.

Carrig manager Martin Jones reckoned the one goal was poor reward for Carrig's dominance and must have been worried when the Hill came so close to a 55th minute equaliser. Then O'Regan returned a clearance into the box and over the top. Dorgan won his clash with keeper Kidney but skipper Madden as on the spot to make a goal-saving tackle.

Four minutes later, the energetic Kidney won a great ball in midfield and shrugged off a string of tackles to make ground into the box but had to settle for a corner after a well judged tackle by John O'Keeffe.

Watergrasshill's Pa Moroney highest against Noel Furlong. 

Carrigtwohill captain Sean Madden receives the St Michael's Cup from AUL secretary Martin Conlon.

Watergrasshill's Johnny Dorgan under pressure from Ian O'Donoghue. 

The middle part of the second half was interrupted by a series of substitutions before the next big chance came to Carrig. In the 77th minute, Dave Barry, who got even better as the game wore on, sent McSweeney clear but his dangerous cross was blocked by Foley.

Watergrasshill equalised after their best move of the game in the next minute. Sub Daniel Mullins came in at the end of it and coolly laid it off to the incoming O'Regan. He got his shot away and it deflected off tackling defender Kennedy and looped over keeper Kidney before going into the net off the post.

O'Regan deserved a goal for his five star show but Carrig were the better team and got their reward in the 82nd minute. Sub Darren Sylvester knocked the ball back to Barry. He spotted the intelligent run of McSweeney and picked him out. McSweeneyí' endline cross was equally precise and Furlong beat a queue of forwards at the far post to volley past Butsana and make the final score 2-1.

Aimee Butsana, the Hill keeper, grabs the ball.  

Carrigtwohill captain Sean Madden lifts the St Michael's Cup. Madden has played in four finals, two that he lost with Mayfield and now two that he won with Carrig. 

Hill keeper Aimee Botsana got a strong right hand down to stop the stop by Noel Furlong (on ground).

McSweeney was denied another goal by a terrific advance by the keeper in the 42nd minute while twice in the closing minutes, OíRegan went close for the Hill. But the night, and the cup, belonged to holders Carrig.

Carrigtwohill Utd: Adrian Kidney, Cormac Carroll, Ian OíDonoghue, Shane Kennedy, Sean Madden captain, Leonard Healy, Dave Barry, Noel Furlong, Stephen Kidney, Cian McSweeney and Stephen Dineen. Subs: Derek Nolan, Darren Sylvester, Derek Healy, Neilus Murphy and Sean Buckley.

Watergrasshill Utd: Aimee Butsana, Moss OíKeeffe, Kieran Foley captain, John OíKeeffe, Edward OíConnell, Eddie Moynihan, Paddy OíRegan, Pa Moroney, John Dorgan, Michael OíSullivan and Morgan Foley. Subs: Daniel Mullions, Kieran Coakley, Denis OíCallaghan, Brian Cosgrove and Sean O'Leary.

Referee: John Lyne. Assistants: John Lenihan and Tony Murphy.

Three referees enjoying the final (l to r): Gene Stephens, Connie Long and Mark O'Keeffe

Carrig skipper Sean Madden (left) and Johnny Dorgan clash in the air. 

The Hill lose out to the neighbours.