Delight for Little Bray
Lowe goal sends United to Wicklow Cup final
LITTLE BRAY UNITED GOREY CELTIC 1 0
LITTLE Bray United made it to their second Hills of Arklow Wicklow Cup final in three years when they dispatched Gorey Celtic thanks to a Shay Lowe goal in the semi-final replay at the Carlisle Grounds on this week in 1994.
Awaiting them in the decider was Enniskerry YC and although fog would cause the game to be called off the following week the sides would get to go head to head the next weekend and then a replay the following week and a reflection on that marathon can be found elsewhere in the sport section this week.
‘A 76th minute goal from Shay Lowe saw Little Bray United reach their second Hills of Arklow Wicklow Cup final in three years at the expense of a brave Gorey Celtic side in this semi-final replay at th Carlisle Grounds on Thursday night,’ read the report in the Wicklow and Bray People newspapers this week in 1994.
‘Extra-time seemed to be on the cards when Lowe weaved his way into the penalty area, played a neat one-two with Alan Connolly, and then drilled the ball low and hard into the corner of the net from the narrowest of angles.
‘On the overall balance of the play, there was no doubt that Little
Bray deserved their win, but the Wexford men certainly made them fight all the way.
‘Paul Treacy, Jonathan O’Neill and Billy Treacy all went close in the opening 20 minutes as the Darglesiders made the early running.
‘They were desperately unlucky in the 38th minute when Kevin Farrell’s brilliant 30-yard free-kick came back off the crossbar with Gorey keeper Jim Cush beaten all ends up. He then made good saves from Shay Lowe and Paul Treacy, while Little Bray keeper Ian Fowler did well to prevent Darren
Keegan from giving the Division 1 side a shock lead.
‘Cush then made another fine stop from Shay Lowe in the 58th minute, with Fowler denying Donal Byrne justa minute later.
‘The Bray side stepped up a gear in the latter stages of the contest, Darren Keating heading over from a corner and Alan Connolly then heading straight at Cush.
‘Shay Lowe then got that all important score and Gorey never really looked like getting back into the contest. But they did have one las chance in the 87th minute, Mick Murphy latching on to a cleverly taken free-kick from Willie Berns, only to shoot wide from eight yards.
‘Little Bray Unityed: Ian Fowler, Darren Keating, Darren Temple, Jim Devlin, Brendan Lowe, Eddie McCann, Jonathon O’Neill, Kevin Farrell, Paul Treacy, Shay Lowe, Billy Treacy. Subs: Damien Johnson, Alan Connolly, John Conway.
‘Gorey Celtic: Jim Cush, Damien Greene, Mick Murphy, Denis Fitzpatrick, David Kennedy, Sammy Walker, Martin Murphy, Brian Kennedy, Donal Byrne, Darren Keegan, Pa Kenny. Subs: Thomas Fitzpatrick, Johnny Cash, Willie Berns.