Four-goal Doyle was the Ashford Rovers hero in Giff Cup final
ASHFORD ROVERS COGOiffLCGuR EfAinN
p alY
5 2
ARTHUR DOYLE produced a magnificent four-goal salvo as Ashford Rovers came from 2-0 down to win convincingly enough in extra-time in a very exciting Giff Cup final against Coolgreany at the Carlisle Grounds 30 years ago this week in 1990.
‘Earlier, the Wexford men had looked certain winners, but to Ashford’s credit, their heads never dropped and with a lethal marksman like Doyle in their team, there was always a chance that they would force their way back into the contest,’ was how the game was described in the Wicklow People.
‘Coolgreany went in front after 11 minutes with a rather fortuitous goal. Eddie O’Sullivan claimed it, but the ball appeared to take a deflection off an Ashford defender after a goalmouth scramble.
‘Rovers almost drew level within seconds as Coolgreany ’keeper Larry Noctor pulled off a good stop from James Lawless. O’Sullivan had a great chance to make it 2-0 in the 13th minute, but he slipped the ball inches wide of the post with Ashford ’keeper Ger Rooney beaten all ends up.
‘Noctor blocked well from Ronnie Phillips in the 20th minute as play continued to flow from end to end.
‘Paddy Stamp then missed a glorious opportunity just before the interval, shooting over from 15 yards with only Rooney to beat.
‘But the Coolgreany number nine made amends immediately after the restart when he latched onto a through ball from O’Sullivan before placing the ball neatly into the back of the net.
‘Ashford seemed dead and buries at this stage, but they replied within five minutes as Arthur Doyle was taken down by Johnny Kavanagh and referee David Earls had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Doyle took the kick himself and scored with the greatest of ease.
‘Rovers levelled matters in the 65th minute when Dave Phillips hooked the ball into the penalty area and Doyle slid in to poke it home from six yards.
‘The Division 1 team now looked stronger and the Division 2 league leaders wilted under the pressure of extra-time.
‘With two minutes gone in the first period of extra-time, Ashford went in front for the first time. Michael Collier hit a long ball into the Coolgreany box and Doyle nipped in behind the defence before lobbing the ball over Noctor to complete his hat-trick.
‘A minute later, it was 4-2 as Ronnie Phillips clipped in a Michael McDonald corner after Doyle had headed the ball down to him. Doyle completed a memorable afternoon by knocking in his fourth goal in the dying seconds, hitting an unstoppable volley past Noctor.
Rovers: Ger Rooney, Eamonn Manley, Michael Collier, James Lawless, Mick McDonald, William Beale, Martin Drumgoole, Dave Phillips, Arthur Doyle, Dave Shannon, Ronnie Phillips. Subs: Noel Moody for Beale, Liam Carthy for Lawless.
ASHFORD