Bhoys secure Gilligan Cup crown
SHAMROCK BHOYS brought the Gilligan Cup back to Bray for the first time since 1978 last weekend when they emerged triumphant from a penalty shoot out after a tough encounter with St John Bosco.
Jack Douglas was taken down for a penalty after 20 minutes which Davy Carroll converted.
Graham McCormack put the Bray outfit 2-0 up with a bullet of a header and the score remained 2-0 at the half-time break.
St John Bosco pulled one back from a penalty in the 50th minute and they equalised in the 80th minute which sent the game to extra time where both teams had chances to win the game but neither team availed of the chances and the game went to penalties.
Davy Carroll stepped up and scored the first. Darren McAtear scored the second. The St John Bosco keeper saved the third from Kevin Farrell while Kevin Byrne scored the fourth.
Bhoys’ keeper Niall Vaughner saved the second and fourth penalty and he then stepped up to take the fifth penalty which he scored to secure victory for Shamrock Bhoys.
Vaughner was outstanding on the day and duly won the Man of the Match award. It was an all round excellent team performance.
“As manager I would like to thank the committee for all there hard work throughout the season,” said Declan Harris after the game.
“To my assistant, Shay Brien, and head coach, Colm Treasson, also the players for a remarkable season for which we were also runners up in the league and are now promoted to 1A Intermediate league, I’m very proud of wot the lads have achieved,” he added.
Bray Wanderers were the last team to bring the Gilligan Cup back to Bray and that was in 1978.
Team: Niall Vaughner, Jay Mulligan, Kev Farrell, D. Fletcher, Eoin Devitt, Darren McAtear, Graham McCormack, Davy Carroll, Cormac O’Farrell, Jack Douglas, Darren Lacey. Subs: Tony Harris for Jack Douglas after 25 minutes; David Duffin for D Lacey 60 minutes; Kevin Byrne for D Fletcher 65 minutes; Shay Brien and Colm Treasson (not used).