Northside lift under 21 league title despite best efforts of super Mal Clarke
NORTHSIDE BLUES 4 C.I.E. (Drogheda) 3
With five minutes to go in this Calor-Kosangas sponsored under-21 league final for the Brady Household Centre Trophy at United Park on Friday evening, it looked odds-on that extra time would be needed at the scoreline read 2-2. But three goals in the final four minutes, two to Northside Blues and one to C.I.E. gave the former the honours for the coming year—succeeding Boyne Rovers, the first holders of the trophy.
The Blues were worthy winners, but for a long period in the secondhalf they lost a grip on the proceedings having dominated the play for the first 45 minutes. They would not have been flattered had they led by four goals at the interval but as it was they turned over just one goal in the lead.
This was due mainly to a fine display of goalkeeing by Mal Clarke in the C.I.E. whose efforts was to win him the special player of the match award. Clarke justified himself with some fine saves in the opening minutes but could do little to prevent John Thornton giving Northside the lead in the 12th minute.
In the 35th minute G. Richardson (CIE) was penalised for a foul on Dyas. Dyas scored from the resultant penalty but referee Mr. E. Sweeney, ordered the kick to be retaken as two Northside players moved into the penalty area as the kick was been taken. Clarke made a masterly save from the re-taken kick.
In the 55th minute a Northside defender was penalised for handball. P. Mooney equalised with the penalty. Then the Railway side took over. In the 70th minute, Northside conceded another penalty of the encounter and again P. Mooney made no mistake.
It was Dyas who paved the way for the winners comeback when he centred well from the left flank for Brian Watters to equalise. And with less than five minutes to go Watters,
Dyas and O. McDonnell combined in a swift move that gave Blues the lead.
Two minutes later, Clarke got his hands to a P. Murray shot but failed to hold the ball and Tony Secry who had substituted for H. Phelan, cracked the ball home to make it 4-2.
But the scoring was not over and in an exciting finish G. Richardson availed of a slip in the winners defence to score C.I.E.’s third goal.
The presentations of the trophies were made in the United clubhouse.
Mr. Danny O’Neill, organising secretary of the competition, thanked Calor-Kosangas for their sponsorship and Mrs. T. Brady of Brady Household.
Northside Blues — M. Phelan, A. Kierans, ‘K. Campbell, B. Watters, E. Brennan, S. Kierans, J. Dyas, O. McDonnell, P. Murray, H. Phelan, J. Thornton, 12th T. Seery, 13th T. Kelly.
C.I.E.—. M. Clarke, J. Delaney, K. Whelan, M. Campbell, P Connolly, P. Mooney, R. Whelan; O. Quinlan, G. Richardson, A. Clarke, 12th J. McHugh.