Mainebank FC are Division One champions after win over Strand Road FC in tetchy final
MAINEBANK were crowned Kerry District League Division One champions on Friday evening with a 3-2 victory over Strand Road in Mounthawk Park after a thrilling league final.
An early goal in each half for Mainebank proved to be the difference, along with a missed penalty for the Tralee side, but ultimately the stronger team came out on top.
Mainebank arrived into Tralee as the Division 1 table toppers, finishing four points ahead of their opponents on the night, however, Strand Road secured a place in this final by beating the Castlemaine side just two weeks previous.
It was the league leaders who started the brighter of the two in the opening phases. The first good scoring chance came from a set piece to which Luke Flynn rose highest but just directed his header off target.
We didn’t have to wait long for the game’s opening goal, just eight minutes in Sean Foley produced a wonderful through ball which Liam Roche got on to and slotted into the bottom corner to give his side a deserved early lead.
The Tralee side looked unsettled early and it wasn’t until a succession of corners after a quarter of an hour that they managed to put any pressure on the Mainebank defence.
That flurry into the opposition half proved a confidence builder for Strand Road though as they found an equaliser against the run of play just before the twenty minute mark. A wonderful defence-splitting pass from the midfield set Ciamhine Phillipson in behind and the right midfielder coolly placed the ball between the keepers’ legs at the near post.
Mainebank rallied again in the lead up to halftime, and with eight to play, their target man Pádraig O Brien had a snap shot rebound back to him kindly and he made no mistake on the second effort finding the bottom left corner from twelve yards out to give his side the lead once more.
Strand Road did have a huge chance to go in level at the break after a close range rebound fell back to Phillipson but Cahillane recovered well to prevent an equaliser and ensure his team held the advantage at halftime.
The killer blow came four minutes into the second half as once again a slow start for Strand Road cost them. O’Brien’s initial effort wasn’t cleared and on the second effort, Liam Roche smashed into the top corner to put daylight between the teams.
The drama continued to unfold with Strand Road once again creating a big chance moments after conceding, this time a floated corner saw Daryl Byrne fouled in the box and the referee pointed to the spot immediately indicating the clear push in the back. McCarthy stepped up and drove the spot kick low and hard but Stephen Cahillane guessed right, diving to his right to save and hold on.
Strand Road did manage to get back within one just five minutes later, the theme of the game being blocked shots rebounding back into second efforts that were well taken, this time Rui Hennessy poking into the bottom right corner.
Mainebank had a huge chance to regain their two goal lead off a second chance that Prenderville blazed over the bar as his on-looking teammates fell to their knees in disbelief.
As the clock wore down, Mainebank were happy to sit in and soak the pressure that Strand Road were throwing at them, with both teams turning to their benches to try to freshen their wilting sides in the dead heat.
Tempers began to fray late on and with three minutes to go a sidelines brawl erupted as Mainebank tried to recover the ball from Strand Road that resulted in several cards, including Mainebank finishing the tie with ten men.
Despite that, the Castlemaine side played out the last three minutes plus four additional holding the ball and running the clock to the best of their ability, and were crowned Division One champions.
MAINEBANK: Stephen Cahillane, Cian Flynn, Sean O’Dea, Paul Costello, Luke Flynn, Sean Foley, Colm O’Neill, Shane Prendiville, Pádraig O’‘Brien, Gavin OBrien, Liam Roche. Subs: Shane Evans for Pádraig O’Brien, Odhran Smith for Gavin O’Brien, John Lawlor for Liam Roche, Simon Coffey for Colm O’Neill.
STRAND ROAD FC: Gavin Byrne, Johnny McCarthy, Alan Quirke, Jay McCoy, Ciamhine Phillipson, Rui Hennessey, Tommy McCarthy, Sami, Pa McCarthy, Simon Kedzierski, Daryl Byrne. Subs: Jordan Bowler for Johnny McCarthy, Adam O’Mahony for Tommy McCarthy, Ciaran Carmody for Daryl Byrne, Paul O’Connor for Pa McCarthy