JOY OF THE ROVERS
Castlebridge side are a Bridge too far for Cloughbawn
BRIDGE ROVERS CLOUGHBAWN 3 2 BRIDGE ROVERS lifted the Neil O’Sullivan Cup for the first time after a pulsating final in Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Castlebridge outfit, who were recently promoted back to the top flight, twice held a two-goal lead in an absorbing contest, but although always playing catch-up, Cloughbawn never refused to let their heads drop and the outcome was in doubt until referee Fran Sinnott blew his final whistle after eight tension-filled minutes of injury time.
Bridge Rovers went into the game as favourites, plying their trade two divisions above their opponents, and they couldn’t have asked for a better start, with Kevin Murphy giving them the lead inside three minutes.
Kevin Byrne was brought down in the area and the number ten stepped up and confidently struck the spot-kick to the left-hand corner of the net.
After a disastrous start, Cloughbawn began to get their foot on the ball but carving open the Bridge Rovers defence to create any clear-cut chances proved difficult, although Páidí Cullen did try his luck, firing a half-volley from the edge of the area over the bar having been found by Cillian Doyle.
In the tenth minute Johnny Cullen fizzed a good ball into the box, but Gavin Murphy couldn’t direct a difficult header on target.
However, Rovers really stamped their authority on the contest in the 27th minute when Shane Murphy whipped in a teasing cross from the left wing and Oisín Firman stooped to steer a brilliant header beyond Billy Dunne.
Cloughbawn needed a moment of inspiration to drag themselves back into the contest and they came oh so close on 29 minutes when James Redmond whipped in a dangerous delivery from the left, which Stephen Mahon diverted goalwards, but Bryan Tobin pulled off a wonderful instinctive save.
The Division 2A champions continued to press and Gavin Murphy teed up Cillian Doyle but his effort skewed across goal.
Two minutes before the break the skilful Páidí Cullen played in Stephen Mahon and his deflected shot strayed narrowly wide of the post.
Mahon’s frustration was shortlived though, as he managed to get on the scoresheet in first-half injury time when the ball fell to his feet and his shot took a deflection off Colin Redmond and nestled in the corner of the net.
The breakthrough was a real fillip for Cloughbawn and they began the second-half with renewed belief.
In the 49th minute a Stephen Mahon pass found Willie Murphy, who turned well and fired in a shot which was well saved by Tobin.
Páidí Cullen was next to test the shot-stopper, unleashing a decent effort from the edge of the area which Tobin gathered at the second attempt with Willie Murphy closing in.
The wind was temporarily taken out of Cloughbawn’s sails in the 69th minute when Kevin Byrne stole possession from a dithering defence and when his shot was saved by netminder Dunne, man of the match Kevin Murphy nodded in at the far post to restore the twogoal cushion.
Cloughbawn didn’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves though, with the industrious Cillian Doyle latching on to a defensive error and hitting the back of the net just three minutes later.
Cloughbawn could sense that they had Bridge Rovers rattled and they went for the jugular, with Páidí Kehoe seeing his deflected effort from the edge of the area saved and Páidí Cullen firing a difficult chance over the crossbar.
The men in green and black continued to pile forward but a well-disciplined Bridge Rovers defence denied them any further gilt-edged opportunities.
In fact, the Castlebridge side went close to grabbing a fourth on the break when substitute Derek Walsh arrowed a left-footed drive over the bar.
A few hearts did skip a beat with 97 minutes on the clock when Páidí Cullen floated a free from just outside the area into the box, but Johnny’s Cullen deflected shot landed in the grateful arms of Bryan Tobin and the celebrations could begin.
BRIDGE ROVERS: Bryan Tobin, Simon Murphy, Shane Hogan, Colin Redmond, Mark Tobin, Terry Gainfort, Oisín Firman, Kevin Byrne, Shane Murphy, Kevin Murphy, Mark Mythen. Subs. - David Kenny
for Firman (64), Niall Murphy for Byrne (72), Derek Walsh for S. Murphy (88), also Daniel Murphy, Ray McGlone.
CLOUGHBAWN: Billy Dunne, Páidí Kehoe, James Redmond, David Doyle-Murphy, Johnny Cullen, Gavin Murphy, Martin Kehoe, Páidí Cullen, Stephen Mahon, William Murphy, Cillian Doyle. Subs. - James Dempsey for Doyle-Murphy (60), Kevin Murphy for Mahon (75), also Seán McCann, Daniel Dempsey, Adrian Stachon. REFEREE: Fran Sinnott. Assistant referees: Darren Ennis and Marc Kelly. Fourth official: Peter Rowlands.