It’s sweet revenge for five-star Harps
BOYNE HARPS TRIM CELTIC 5 1
‘WHAT a difference a week makes,’ Boyne Harps’ Tom Reilly mused as he stood on the sideline, watching the final few minutes of his side’s 5-1 over Trim Celtic in the Reserve Cup Final on Friday night.
The two sides met in the Division 3 title play-off the week previous and it was Trim who came out 4-0 winners on that occasion, but a rejuvenated Harps side learned their lessons and Danny Doyle’s side ultimately came out on top.
The left wing combo of Roy Kierans and Dale Harding, who worked so well for Darius Kierans’ seniors in the Kilmessan Shield Final, continued their partnership for the reserves.
The Drogheda side pressed from the first whistle and didn’t allow Trim to settle and they should have opened the scoring on 12 minutes. Martin Kelly spread the ball out wide right to Marty Walsh and his delivery found Harding dead centre of the goal, but rather than try a diving header the striker attempted a volley and it proved to be the wrong option.
Trim were struggling to retain possession due in part to Harps’ press and their first effort on goal came on 18 minutes when they struck a free straight at Dean Martin which was easy for the keeper.
While Harps were creating more chances, they didn’t test the keeper and it was Martin who was the busier of the two shot-stoppers. On the half hour mark he did well to hold onto a rasping shot from the edge of the box.
Six minutes later Harps were caught high up the pitch. David Donovan misjudged the bounce of a long pass and Trim got behind the cover, but Martin was quick off his line to just palm the shot out wide. That little touch was enough to allow the defence get back and break the move down.
Harps finished the half stronger and took the lead on 45 minutes when a Trim kickout was headed back upfield. Tom Reilly spotted the run of Martin Kelly and slipped a pass through and Kelly held his nerve to finish from inside the box.
The Drogheda team doubled their lead 60 seconds later, Nathan Llewellyn won the ball in the middle of the pitch, and while his through ball was charged down by Walsh the Trim defender tried to pass out from the back and played the ball to Llewellyn who finished with aplomb.
Trim scored from a corner four minutes in the second half, but just after the hour mark Harps again turned the ball over in midfield and Llewellyn squared a ball to Kelly for his second goal of the game.
Harps were playing right on the line, looking to break the offside trap, and several marginal calls prevented them from adding to their total.
But with 16 minutes to go Harps made it 4-1. A Harding corner from the right was met by Reilly at the back post and he headed home.
Second-half sub Connor Tully finished the scoring in the 93rd minute with a well-taken goal from a Mickey Matthews pass.
It’s the first time the club have won the Reserve Cup, and along with a first Kilmessan Shield win the week previous it has been a good end to the season for the Drogheda side and the reserves management team of Barry Woods and Danny Doyle. BOYNE HARPS: Dean Martin, Bernard Osborne, Mickey Matthews, David Donnovan, Roy Kierans, Stuart Osborne, Marty Walsh (Connor Tully), Tom Reilly (James Burke), Martin Kelly, Nathan Llewellyn (Keith Mullally), Dale Harding.