Gray Stones hero!
Michael bags winner to spoil Roundwood dreams
GREYSTONES UNITED’S season long wait for silverware came to an end as they stopped their rivals Roundwood from claiming a historic treble with a 1-0 win in the Under-14 Cup final at Finn Park, Kilcoole.
After the cup final formalities were concluded, a slick pitch greeted the two sides for the Wicklow District Schoolboy League’s under-14 show piece game.
A sprinkling of rain throughout ensure that the ball zipped around the surface, and it was Greystones United who zipped into an early lead.
Just three minutes were clocked up when Michael Gray scored the game’s decisive goal, and this truly was a finish worthy of winning any cup final.
The influential Ben O’Neill picked up the ball on the left-wing and bet his man before standing up and picking out Gray with a pinpoint cross, from a difficult angle Gray met it first time with his left foot and angled it goalward as it skimmed the post and went in.
Clearly knocked into life with the concession of an early goal, Roundwood upped their game and enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession and chances in the opening period.
Xander Johnson offered Roundwood’s first effort in the form of a powerful shot which was heading towards the top corner before Ross McPartland dived across the frame to save for Greystones.
Johnson found himself in a similar position just a few minutes later, this time he opted to volley and was unlucky to see his strike rise about two yards over the bar.
Greystones looked to react to Roundwood’s dominance, and they nearly offered the perfect response. Michael Gray was to the fore again, but on this occasion, he couldn’t quite best Eoin Cleary in the Roundwood goals, his header just catching the side netting.
Ross McPartland was called into action again on twenty minutes, Niall Sheehan drove a shot goalward from a fair distance, though McPartland was equal to it with an acrobatic leap.
Roundwood’s best chance of the game fell to Sheehan just seconds later. Cian Evans’ free kick smashed off the crossbar and into the path of Sheehan, from six yards out the youngster was unable to get his feet together and only managed to direct his shot into the hands of McPartland, to Sheehan’s credit this was a difficult chance which was sprung upon him quite spontaneously.
Dylan Cummins was the next Roundwood player to threaten, his free kick hit the wall and went narrowly wide of the post, Roundwood looked dangerous from the resulting corner, but after a goalmouth scramble they could not convert.
Greystones thought that they had claimed a decisive second goal on the brink of half-time, Aaron Keddy released Gray who curled home with a delightful finish, but he was denied by the flag of the linesman who correctly adjudged the Greystones striker to have strayed offside.
The opening exchanges of the second-half didn’t quite match the high tempo that was set in the first-period.
Roundwood controlled most the possession and often opted to go through the middle, perhaps this was their downfall as on many occasions they failed to get into wide positions when the midfield area was congested.
Greystones never got going in the second-half, but they didn’t need to.
The defensive excellence of Cian Evans and Aaron Keddy ensured that Roundwood were restricted to long range efforts and McPartland was equal to these.
Although despite Greystones defensive dominance, five minutes from time a series of gasps were heard at Finn Park – Donal Byrne from deep inside his own half almost found the top corner of McPartland’s goal with a finely struck shot-come-clearance which found the side netting, what an equaliser it would have been.
Greystones almost sealed the deal a minute later with Rory Barry seeing his powerful header cleared off the line by Cian Timmons.
With three minutes of additional time, Roundwood threw the kitchen sink at Greystones, a series of corners had hearts thumping, but ultimately the all elusive equalizer evaded the boys in blue, and they came up short for the first time this season.
These two teams have built up quite the rivalry over the course of the season, with Roundwood besting Greystones to the League and Shield titles.
On this occasion Greystones were deserved winners, though credit must go to both sides who fought hell and leather from the first kick of the game, the quality of football, commitment and level of tackling that was on display made for a fantastic final, and both teams can be proud of their achievements this season.
Greystones United: 1. Ross McPartland, 2. Rory Barry, 3. Cian Evans, 4. Callum Archer, 5. Aaron Keddy, 6. Shane Collins, 7. Daniel Ilchenko, 8. Oscar Kinsella, 9. Michael Gray, 10. Adam Longmore,
11. Ben O’Neill. Subs: 12. Gareth Slevin, 13. Kristian Currie, 14. Sean McCormack, 15. Sean Caffery.
Roundwood AFC: 1. Eoin Cleary, 2. Kian Johnson, 3. Matt Nolan, 4. Ciaran Murphy, 5. Nathan Quinn, 6. John Paul-Nolan,
7. Dylan Cummins, 8. Niall Sheehan, 9. James Cardiff, 10. Xander Johnson, 11. Conor Fee. Subs: 13. Enda Boyle, 14. Donal Byrne, 15. Ben Staunton, 16. Cian Timmons.