AC Athletic make it a triple decker season

TOMMY HEALY MEMORIAL CUP FINAL REPLAY

AC Athletic 2 Strand Road FC 0 WITH the Division 1A league title and Dominos Pizza Cup already under their belts AC Athletic completed the treble at Mounthawk Park on Sunday when they were crowned Tommy Healy Memorial Cup Champions after a convincing win over Strand Road.

When the sides met two weeks ago it was a tight game but AC were the dominant side in this replay and won very comfortably at the end. AC had the lion’s share of possession for most of the game and their keeper Cyril Dineen had very little to do over the 90 minutes.

AC were on top at midfield with David Egan pulling the strings while John Mike Dooley and Joseph Diggins were a constant threat up front. They had a couple of early half chances but strikes on goal by Joseph Diggins and John Mike Dooley yielded nothing.

Strand Road put a good move together in the 18th minute after good link up play between Shane McElligott and Richie Hurley but the latter over-hit his cross. AC should have gone ahead in the 20th minute when Jason Diggins got on to the end of a John Mike Dooley cross, but he volleyed over from eight yards with the goals at his mercy.

Strand Road had a lucky escape in the 27th minute when John Mike Dooley crept in behind their defence and his shot for the near post from a tight angle was saved by Killian Moran.

Another scoring chance presented itself for the Causeway side in the 27th minute when Eamon Fitzgerald latched on to a David Egan corner kick but his attemped volley came off his shin and went over the top.

Then AC opened the Strand Road defence with a penetrating attack which produced a corner kick. This was centred by Joseph Diggins and David Egan got on to the end of it but headed wide.

All the pressure finally paid off for AC in the 37th minute after a quick attack from midfield Joseph Diggins crossed the ball to Jason Diggins and he rifled the ball home from 12 yards.

Just before the break an audacious bicycle kick by John Mike Dooley went narrowly wide. Strand Road began the second half very encouragingly and were beginning to put a few decent attacks together. A great cross by Richie Hurley found Dan Kinsella and his flashing header was just outside the post.

They got a great chance in the 50th minute when a Jeremy McKenna handball gave them a free kick just outside the box. John Griffin hit the free kick very tamely and it was an easy save for the AC keeper.

Then AC forced a corner which was dispatched into the goalmouth by David Egan and Eamon Fitzgerald headed over the top. As the half moved on Strand Road began to use their bench and with just a goal between the sides the game was still wide open.

Strand Road forced a corner kick in the 62nd minute which was taken by Shane Greensmyth and when the ball broke loose in front of goals Richie Hurley stung the gloves of the AC keeper with a low shot.

However, things went horribly wrong for the Tralee side in the 74th minute when a shot by sub John Buckley hit John Griffin in the back and when it bounced up it struck his hand and referee Anthony Morrison immediately pointed to the spot.

Eamon Fitzgerald gave the Strand Road keeper no chance blasting the ball to the roof of the net.

To their credit Strand Road did not give up the chase and they went close to pulling one back in the 81st minute after good build up play Jamie Sheehan Leen let fly with a piledriver close in which was parried by the AC keeper Cyril Dineen but he recoveded well and took control of the ball

They got a late free kick in a very promising position but Dan Kinsella’s effort was weak and at the AC keeper. On the day AC were the much better side and were very deserving winners.

They can now look forward to playing in Division 1B next season. It is a phenomenal achievement to win the treble and great credit is due to their player manager Mark Walshe who has been doing such great work promoting the game in the Causeway area for the past two decades.

While Strand Road will be disappointed at losing the game they can look back with great satisfaction on a very successful season the highlight of which was winning the Division 2A League Title. AC ATHLETIC: Cyril Dineen, Sean Leahy, Jeremy McKenna, Eamon Fitzgerald, Mark Walshe, Jason Diggins, David Egan, Conor Diggins (John Buckley, 70), Stephen Goggin, John Mike Dooley, Joseph Diggins STRAND ROAD: Killian Moran, Alan Quirke, John Griffin, Dan Kinsella, Paul O’Sullivan, Dylan Hennebery, Shane Greensmyth, Johno O’Reilly (Jamie Sheehan Leen), Richie Hurley, Shane McElligott (Anthony O’Connor, 81), Declan Corcoran (Milos Arvic, 55) REFEREE: Anthony Morrison