Charlie Byrne Cup joy for rampant Rathnew
Craig scores and saves to help Rathnew win the cup
CELTIC PARK played host to this season’s Charlie Byrne Cup final with Rathnew battling it out with Dearg Celtic last Saturday afternoon.
It proved to be a difficult afternoon even before the game kicked off as Rathnew had three regular starters suspended after receiving bans from the game against Arklow Celtic in the semi-final, whilst Dearg Celtic were looking to pick up their first bit of silverware of the season.
Dearg Celtic started the game on top and dominated the possession for the first 10 minutes; winger John Kinsella was causing awful problems for the Rathnew defence early in the game.
The left winger often broke away from left side and cut in onto his right to get a shot off but the wingers shots were tame and easy for keeper Craig Butler.
Dearg kept pushing and pushing and got their reward on the 11th minute when centre back Paddy Reid retrieved the ball in his own half before going on a dazzling run, the defender glided past his opponents and ran the length of the pitch before dribbling past Butler and tapping the ball into an empty net. A great solo goal from the Celtic centre back.
Ryan Garvey had the chance to double Dearg Celtic’s lead a few minutes later when he found himself going one on one with the keeper, but unfortunately for the left back he slipped at the wrong time and the ball was scrambled away.
Rathnew did have some chances of their own late on in the first half, the biggest opportunity came to winger Jordan Graham who was growing into the game. The winger had the opportunity to make it 1-1 on the half hour mark after a well struck freekick from Lee Kavanagh was rebounded to Graham but the winger couldn’t set himself properly before the shot and blasted over. The first half ended 1-0 to Dearg Celtic, who were firmly in the driving seat.
Straight from kick-off Dearg Celtic almost got their second of the game from some great skill and control from skipper Michael Murphy. The skipper controlled a long ball onto his chest before flicking it to Niall Devereux who snatched at the shot and put it well wide.
Goalscorer Paddy Reid and Mick Nolan went into the referees book early in the second half for late challenges, both would have to keep their heads for the remainder of the game.
Rathnew resorted to all-out attack as time was ticking on in the second half. Jordan Graham was causing Garvey problems on the left wing. The winger was very unlucky to be flagged for offside on the 65th minute as he was played a ball over the top and looked to be going one on one with keeper Jamie Roe but the winger was marginally offside.
Warren Kavanagh was introduced on the 70th minute to inject some speed into a tiring Rathnew side.
The winger had a chance just as he came on with a darting run down the left wing but his follow up shot was smothered by Roe.
After a goal line scramble in the Dearg Celtic box referee Jay Redmond blew his whistle and pointed to the spot to reward Rathnew a penalty. The Dearg Celtic players protested but the referee was unhappy with a challenge on a Rathnew player. The Celtic Park attendees were in shock as Craig Butler the Rathnew goal keeper jogged up the pitch to retrieve the ball to take the penalty. Butler gave his opposing keeper the eyes and stroked the ball the other way to make it 1-1, game on.
After 90 minutes the sides couldn’t be separated and thus brought extra time. Both sides seemed happy to maintain possession and hold out for penalties with little chances happening in extra time. The best opportunity of extra time came to Rathnew’s Mick Nolan who took a rebounded free kick first time on the volley right in front of goal, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide. The Rathnew man dropped to the ground in disappointment as he knew that his chance could have decided the game.
After again the teams couldn’t be separated on the score line it would be the dreaded penalties that decided the winners of the cup.
Craig Butler who scored his penalty earlier to bring the game to 1-1 was the first to convert his spot kick, which was followed up by Alan Hudson of Dearg Celtic who scored his. Substitute Warren Kavanagh was second to step up for Rathnew, who scored. Everyone was expecting goal scorer Ian Reid to convert his penalty when he stepped up to take his after his dominate display throughout the game but the Celtic man went for power over precision and made for an easy save for Rathnew’s Craig Butler.
All Rathnew had to do was convert their remaining penalty kicks and as John Sayer stepped up to take Rathnew’s last penalty there was no doubt. Sayer fired the ball home to make it 5-4 on penalties and win his team the Charlie Byrne Cup.
A great comeback for Rathnew as it looked really bleak for their side at the end of the first half as they weren’t in the game at all and Dearg Celtic were firmly on top. Congratulations to Rathnew AFC who are this season’s winners of the Charlie Byrne Cup.
Dearg Celtic: 1. Jamie Roe, 2. Sammy Hughes, 3. Paddy Reid, 4. Owen Brennon, 5. Ryan Garvey, 6. Jamie Power, 7. Jordan O’Connor,
8. Mick Murphy, 9. Niall Devereux,
10. John Kinsella, 11. Alan Hudson. Subs: 12. Craig Brown, 13. Oliver Byrne, 14. Kevin Cullen, 15. Peter Ryan, 16. Shane Hudson.
Rathnew AFC C: 1. Craig Butler, 2. Ronan Woodcock, 3. John Dunleavey, 4. Glen Fewings, 5. Lee Kavanagh, 6. Mick Clarke, 7. Mick Nolan, 8. Jordan Graham , 9. John Sayer, 10. Jason Farrell, 11. Jamie O’Connor. Subs: 12. Terry Mc Guire, 13. Alan Driver, 14. Warren Kavanagh, 15. Robbie Irwin.
Referee: Jason Redmond