Forth best in shoot-out

AFTER A titanic battle and a great advert for the Over-35s league, Forth Celtic eventually came out on top on penalties 5-4 after their game with Taghmon United ended 3-3 after extra-time.

The game began at a relentless pace with both teams giving their all. Forth created the best chances in a very hard-fought first-half, with the first falling to Anthony Hayes when he blazed over the bar when normally you would expect him to hit the back of the net.

Taghmon, with their defence well marshalled by Jason McLoughlin, were proving a tough nut to break down, and with Kieran Kelly and Colin Bent pulling the strings in midfield they began to get a foothold as the first-half wore on but were restricted to longrange efforts by a well-organised Forth Celtic defence.

The midfield battle was proving to be just that as Gordon Simpson and Daithí Hayes were proving more than a match for their opponents.

The second-half began much the same as the first, with Forth having the better chances but failing to convert, and Taghmon were beginning to now look more dangerous as the game wore on.

Forth missed a glorious chance to take the lead when a fine cross from Hayes left Mark Lett with a free header six yards out, but somehow he missed the target.

The final 15 minutes saw Taghmon begin to get on top without creating clearcut chances, but the pressure they were putting on paid off when a ball broke free in the box and Mick Murphy was on hand to toe-poke it to the net in the last minute of normal time.

An injury time free-kick out on the right saw Darren Jordan send in a brilliant delivery and the ball came off the head of a Taghmon defender and into the net to make it 1-1 and bring the game into extra-time.

Great credit must be given to both teams for the level of fitness they showed to serve up an extra-time to remember. Taghmon took the lead when a cross into the Forth box was not dealt with and Ger Power was on hand to put them into a 2-1 lead.

Forth would not be denied and a ball over the top caused confusion for the Taghmon defence and Stephen Daly was quickest to pounce and score from an acute angle.

Again to their credit, Taghmon came forward and forced a free-kick. A Forth defender was caught ball watching and allowed Ger Power in at the back post to make it 3-2.

At this stage it looked as if they had done enough to hold on to their title but in the last seconds of the first period of extra-time, Forth went on the attack again and a cross from the right was partially cleared.

It fell to Rúairí Quigley and his shot was brilliantly saved by Taghmon’s Malcolm McLoughlin, but it fell to a very alert Mark Lett and he made up for his earlier miss to make it 3-3.

The second period of extra-time failed to yield a winner and we went on to the dreaded shoot-out which Forth won 5-4.

Football was the winner in this epic contest. Taghmon will no doubt be disappointed, but they remain in the Cup whilst Forth Celtic will play the winners of Campile and Rosslare Rangers in next week’s semi-final.

Results: Forth Celtic 3, Taghmon United 3 (AET, 5-4 on pens.); Shamrock Rovers 0, Ross Celtic 0 (AET, 5-4 on pens.); Corach Ramblers 0, Fastnet Rovers 1; Campile v. Rosslare Rangers (yesterday, Monday).

Fixtures: League semi-finals, Campile/Rosslare v. Forth Celtic, Shamrock Rovers v. Fastnet Rovers

Times and venues TBC, please check www.theover35s.com