Rathnew secure Bishop Cup crown
RATHNEW AFC A ARKLOW TOWN A 2 0
TWO superb second-half freekicks helped Rathnew to a sweet victory in the Charlie Bishop Cup final this week in 2000 as they sank Arklow town’s dreams by two goals to nil at Finlay Park.
Rathnew’s Ken Doyle and Robert Doyle were the scorers of the two beauties that helped Rathnew to avoid not claiming any silverware from a season for the first time in a decade.
Alas, for Arklow Town the defeat meant that they finished the season emptyhanded after a campaign consisting of 40 matches including the Wicklow Cup final defeat to Enniskerry YC a few weeks prior to this sickening defeat.
‘Clearcut chances were at a premium in a scrappy opening half hour,’ wrote the then Wicklow and Bray People soccer correspondent Paul Dowling.
‘Mick Byrne and Noel Kehoe went close for the ‘Town from distance with Mark Doyle blazing wide and then Wayne O’Gorman shooting across the face of goal at the other end.
The last 10 minutes of the first period belonged to the Merrymeeting based side; Declan O’Brien did well to turn away a 20-yard Don Doyle half volley.
‘The netminder then recovered to gather the ball on his line after he had spilled a Trevor Doyle low drive.
Right on the stroke of half-time, the striker was unlucky to see his far post header hit the bar from an Anthony Mernagh centre.
‘The deadlock was broken three minutes after the restart.
A free was awarded on the right side of Arklow’s area near the corner flag.
And from the deadball, teenager Ken Doyle struck left-footed into the top corner at the near post past a bemused O’Brien.
‘Soon after, Arklow had the opportunity to draw level with Kehoe heading over from a corner.
On the hour, Trevor Doyle freed his brother Mark on the right wing and his low cross set up Mernagh, but with just the keeper to beat from six yards he dragged his shot wide.
‘The tie was settled in the 75th minute when Robert Doyle hit a superb free from 25 yards out and into the right side of the net.
‘Rathnew had further chances to add to their tally after that. O’Brien brilliantly denied Mark
Doyle. Good work involving the same player and Pat Snell resulted in O’Brien only parrying the ball into the path of substitiute Stephen Kavanagh but he amazingly scooped the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box.
Man of the Match: Robert Doyle. The award on the evening went to Don Doyle but ‘Rosie’, once again, showed he was the man for the big occasion.
Rathnew AFC A: Eamon Doyle, Pat Snell, Ken Doyle, Eamonn White, Don Doyle, Robert Doyle, James Snell, Wayne O’Gorman, Trevor Doyle, Mark Doyle, Anthony Mernagh. Subs: Leighton Glynn for Snell (56mins), Stephen Kavanagh for T Doyle (70mins), Mark Snell for M Doyle.
Arklow Town A: Declan O’Brien, Philip Gleeson, Anthony Murphy, Noel Kehoe, James Kavanagh, Gearoid Redmond, James Snell, Noel McDonald, Matt hudson, Mick Byrne, John Fennell. Subs: Alastair Crowley for Hudson (55min), Alan McBride for McDonald (65min), James O’Sullivan for Fennell (78min), Philip Healy, Anthony Kenny, Gerry Curtis, Myles Rowan (all not used). Referee: Frank Mullen Assistants: Fran Martin, Andy Kavanagh