The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Silverware at last for Avenue
TOMMMY HEALY MEMORIAL CUP FINAL Mitchels Avenue 2 Castlemaine United B 0
AFTER losing the Division 1A final to Tralee Celtic and going down to Killarney Athletic in the Greyhound Bar Cup Final Mitchels Avenue made it third time lucky at Mounthawk Park on Saturday evening when they were crowned Tommy Healy Memorial Cup Champions after an impressive win over Castlemaine United B.
This was their third Tommy Healy Cup title win in the space of four years, which is a remarkable achievement. The Tralee side stamped their authority on this game early on with Lorcan Seymour and Graham O’Leary excelling at midfield and striker Brendan Coffey was a constant threat up front.
Castlemaine were bent on defending deep and trying to hit on the counter attack. Mitchels Avenue were only a fraction away from taking the lead in the fourth minute with a free kick from Sean O’Reilly just inches over the top. Four minutes later they went ahead with a brilliantly executed goal. Lorcan Seymour did the donkey work at midfield and offloaded to Brendan Coffey just inside the box and at an angle he fired low to the bottom corner of the net.
Castlemaine then forced a corner kick which was floated in by Stephen O’Carroll and Cathal Moriarty had a chance 10 yards out but the ball came off his knee. They almost equalised in the 17th minute when the silken skills of Cathal Moriarty left three defenders in his wake and his low shot was just inches wide.
Straight afterwards a foul on Seamus Dowd gave them a free kick just outside the box. However, Cathal Moriarty did not execute the free kick too well and it came off the defensive wall.
The industrious Jerome Flynn then had a chance but his bullet of a shot failed to hit the target. Play then switched down the other end and Brendan Coffey turned on a sixpence just outside the box and his curling left footed shot brought a great save out of the Castlemaine goalie Luke Flynn.
By now Mitchels Avenue were perfecting their passing game at midfield and Castlemaine had to work hard to win possession.
Lorcan Seymour had an effort from distance that went wide and Brendan Coffey fired a shot into the side netting.
Just before the break David Hennessy latched on to a Graham O’Leary corner kick and his headed effort was just wide. The game was delicately balanced enough at half-time and Castlemaine made a substitution for the second half with Maurice Moriarty replacing Padraig O’Sullivan.
Mitchels Avenue had the lion’s share of possession in the second half but they knew that had to get a second goal to put them in a comfortable position. Castlemaine had a chance in the 55th minute when Padraig O’Brien got in behind the Avenue defence and with Chris Hegarty coming off his line he got the ball past him but the keeper recovered and claimed the ball.
Now Mitchels Avenue were turning the screw and it seemed to be only a matter of time before they scored again. Then in the 62nd minute a foul on Brendan Coffey led to a free kick on the left side of the box.
It was curled into the goalmouth by Graham O’Leary and in a forest of players Peter Murphy toe poked the ball over the line and now Avenue were in the driving seat.
Castlemaine used their bench to try and inject a bit of extra strength into the side but they were given no leeway by a strong Avenue defence where David Hennessy and Peter Murphy were outstanding.
Avenue were close to a third goal in the 81st minute with Peter Murphy heading over a Lorcan Seymour corner kick. On the evening Mitchels Avenue were the better side and were very worthy winners at the end.
There was a great reception for the captain of the team Brendan Coffey as he was presented with the cup by the secretary of the KDL John O’Regan.
The Tralee side could add further silverware to their overlaiden mantlepiece as they meet QPR next Monday evening, August 14 in the Domino’s Pizza Reserve Cup Final.
MITCHELS AVENUE: Chris Hegarty, Danny O’Shea, (Liam O’Sullivan 81 mins), David Hennessy, Peter Murphy, Chris O’Sullivan, Robert Lynch, Emeka Sheezynerio, (Nathan O’Leary 51 mins), Lorcan Seymour, Sean O’Reilly, Graham O’Leary, (Mark O’Sullivan 81 mins), Brendan Coffey
CASTLEMAINE United B: Luke Flynn, Kieran O’Carroll, Daniel O’Connor, Padraig O’Sullivan, (Maurice Moriarty 46 mins), Seamus Dowd, Stephen O’Carroll, Jerome Flynn, Jamie O’Shea, Cathal Moriarty, Sean O’Dea, Padraig O’Brien.
REFEREE: Adrien Quirke