The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Dingle Bay bow out after battle in Abbeyfeale
MUNSTER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TROPHY 1/4 FINAL Abbeyfeale United 3 Dingle Bay Rovers 1 AET
DINGLE Bay Rovers crusade in the Munster Champions Trophy ended in West Limerick on Friday night when they went down to Desmond League Abbeyfeale United after extra-time in a cracking cup tie which hung on the balance right up to the concluding stages of the game.
The West Kerry side paid dearly for not taking their chances while they also failed to press home their advantage when the home side had a player red carded early in the second half.
Abbeyfeale nullified Dingle’s one dimensional game plan of over the top balls for Sean Fizgerald and when he occasionally beat their offside trap the Abbeyfeale goalie Billy Quirke was excellent coming off his line to clear the ball when danger existed.
Dingle were off the blocks like a greyhound to the hare and they went ahead after 10 minutes. A free kick from midfield by Joe Sheehy was headed across the goals by Donnacha Higgins and when the ball broke down a shot by Cathal Sheehy was charged down but the rebound fell kindly for Shane Houlihan and he gave the Abbeyfeale goalie no chance with a clinical finish from 10 yards.
The home side almost equalised five minutes later with a lightening counter attack Barry Sheehy linked up with Conor Horan who swept the ball in for the inrushing Paudie Smith but he just failed to make full contact with the ball.
They went close again in the 34th minute when a screamer of a shot from 30 yards by Mike Sheehan was just over the top.
However, they made the break through they had been threatening in the 35th minute when they spreadeagled the Dingle defence with a swift movement from half way with Thomas Sexton laying off the ball to Barry Sheehy who spotted the run of Thomas Smith and when he was bundled over in the box referee Pat O’Connor pointed to the spot.
Barry Sheehy gave the Dingle goalie Thomas Sayers no chance with a superb finish. Dingle had a chance just before the break with a one two between Joe Sheehy and Luke Burgess creating an opening in the Abbeyfeale defence, but Burgess shot from close in was at the keeper.
Dingle’s prospects of winning the game seemed to be greatly enhanced 10 minutes into the second half when Abbeyfeale’s Mike Kelliher was sent off for a second yellow card offence. However, Dingle were unable to make the numerical advantage count and Abbeyfeale were still holdng their own and creating chances up front.
Then the home side got a free kick on the verge of the box and Barry Sheehy’s shot brought a fine save out of Dingle’s goalie Thomas Sayers. After this Abbeyfeale’s goalie Billy Quirke came to his sides rescue on three occasions coming off his line to deny Sean Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald should have scored in the 76th minute when he was set up by Joe Sheehy but he fluffed his shot from close range. With the game deadlocked after 90 minutes it progressed to extra time.
Dingle missed a glorious chance to go ahead mid way through the first period of extra time when sub Cathal Ferriter crossed in a great ball into the goalmouth where it found Luke Burgess unmarked but his headed effort clipped the crossbar with the gaping goals at his mercy.
The home side seized the initiative early in the second period of extra time with Paudie Smith and sub Ryan Carroll linking up to play in sub Pakie O’Connor and he applied an emphatic finish.
It was game set and match minutes later when Pakie O’Connor set up Paudie Smith and he rifled the ball home. On the evening Abbeyfeale were the better side and were very worthy winners.