Nixon delivers double for El Toro in final win

October 1977

GERRY Nixon delivers a one-two to his old team Bank Rovers, to clinch a 2-1 victory for El Toro in the floodlit final of the Reynolds Trophy at Oriel Park.

He puts his side ahead during the opening quarter, and then delivers the killer-blow, as Bank flitter away chance after chance.

Both goals are similarly fashioned, with superb build-ups, leading to two perfectly-weighted left-wing crosses by McArdle for Nixon to steal in, and glide the ball past Arthur.

It is his expert finishing which proves the difference.

Bank are very poor in front of the target, and should have two or three goals to spare before El Toro nab the winner.

The El Toro defence is wide open down the left during the opening twenty minutes, and Rovers exploit this, without being able to grab the lead.

Then, at the other end, Nixon puts El Toro in front to round off an excellent move.

In the second half, Bank again make the running, and the pressure eventually tells when Gussie Hearty tees up Martin McGee to head home.

El Toro look to be tiring, but with time running out, McArdle and Nixon combine once more, 2-1.

Bank aren’t finished, and Hynes makes a fine save to keep out a John Murphy free-kick.

Earlier, he stops another, this one taken by Paddy Crossan.

An entertaining, open game, ends with the surprise team of the competition winning the trophy for the first time.

El Toro: Hynes, Kerley, Shalvey, Morgan, McGee, Fee, Hoey, Mullen, Mackin, Nixon, McArdle. Subs., McGuinness, Goss.

Bank Rovers: Arthur, McArdle, J. Murphy, Lally, T. Murphy, Temple (Crossan), McKevitt, Hearty, Levins, Campbell, M. McGee. Sub., McGee.

Referee, P. Reynolds.