QPR on the brink of first ever silverware

DOMINOS PIZZA RESERVE CUP FINAL QPR v Mitchels Avenue

Monday August 14 Mountthawk Park, 7 30pm QUARRY Park Rangers have never won anything in their 35 year history, but that could all change next Monday evening at Mounthawk Park when they face cup double chasing Mitchels Avenue in the Dominos Pizza Reserve Cup final.

QPR have only been in a final once before and that was eleven years ago in the Greyhound Bar Cup Final and they lost to Killarney Athletic. The East Kerry side have been knocking on the door of success for a number of years now and after all the trying they are just one game away from collecting a coveted bit of precious silverware.

The club was founded back in 1982 and this will be the biggest game in their proud history. Stephen Lehane who has been involved with the club for a long period of time says they are really looking forward to the game.

“The last time we were in a final was over a decade ago when we lost to Killarney Athletic in the Greyhound Bar Cup Final.”

The QPR players come from four neighbouring parishes mainly Rathmore and Gneeviguilla with a couple also from Glenflesk and Ballydesmond.

‘We have had a bad run of results against Mitchels Avenue this season as they beat us twice in the league and also beat us in the Greyhound Bar Cup.”

However, he said that wont matter in this game as it is a final and they will be well prepared for it. In their path to the final QPR defeated Ballybunion 2-0 in the opening round. In the second round they were held to a 1-1 draw by Abhainn Lí, but they won the replay 1-0.

They faced Classic FC in the quarter final and won comfortably 4-1. They performed a giant killing exercise in the semi-final defeating Camp United 3-2. Mitchels Avenue go into this game as Tommy Healy Cup Champions and they will be determined to add another piece of silverware to their already sizable collection. They won their opening round against Killarney Celtic B 3-0.

They were held to a 1-1 draw by Castlegregory in the second round but won the replay 1-0. Sporting Listowel were their opponents in the semi – final and in a high scoring game they won 5-3.

They met Castleisland B in the semi-final and it ended in a 1-1 draw, but they won the replay 1-0 with the goal coming through a second half penalty kick by Chris Hegarty. Mitchels Avenue are now going for the double with the Tommy Healy Memorial Cup now win the bag so a lot of pressure has been lifted off them.

QPR are looking for their first piece of silverware so they will be really up for the big occasion. Mitchels Avenue have the advantage of playing games regularly over the past month while QPR have been idle most of the time.

It should be a tight game but it would be hard betting against Mitchels Avenue bringing off the cup double.