Carbury are Connacht champions
ATHENRY CARBURY 1 2
FORTY eight hours before their Summa Sports CFA Champions Cup final against Athenry FC, Carbury were not sure they would be able to fulfil the fixture.
With a 7.30pm kick-off on Friday, Carbury were struggling for numbers with players already committed to work, holidays and more and could only name two subs. But fast forward to 9.30pm on Friday and the Sligo men were celebrating as they lifted their second trophy in a week with a 2-1 victory over Athenry seeing them crowned the Summa Sports Cup champions. Gerry Brennan’s first-half goal gave Carbury the lead, but Athenry responded almost immediately through Cathal Fahy. The Sligo men were reduced to ten men in the second half were Ross McLoughlin was dismissed, but Aaron Murren’s screamer from the half-way line late on proved to be the winner, a worthy winner.
Despite having to make do without the likes of Niall Brennan, Mark Rooney, Gareth Kelly, Colm Jinks and more, Carbury were still able to field a strong team. The first chance of the game fell to Neal McKenna with seconds on the clock, but he dragged his shot just wide of the mark.
Athenry’s Colm O’Donovan was proving a handful early on, and a strong interception from Steve Feeney halted his burst forward in the early stagers.
Danny O’Leary, filling in for the absent Mark Rooney in the Carbury goal, was called into action twice when he got his palm to Cathal Fahy’s effort, before he pushed away Garvin Broughall’s inswinging corner.
David Adams went close on 16 minutes after good work from Ibra Savage and Gary Armstrong, but could not find the elusive opener. O’Leary was dealing well with everything Athenry threw his way, getting behind an Adam Duffy free-kick, before the Galway men should have taken the league.
As Adams lost possession for Carbury, Stephen Relihan surged forward but with time on his side, he wastefully fired wide, much to the frustration of his team-mates.
On 35 minutes, Carbury took a well deserved lead. Savage’s cross came to Ross McLoughlin and his shot fell into the path of Gerry Brennan. The Ballymote man’s first attempt was blocked, but he got it over the line on the second attempt.
There wasn’t much time for celebrations, however, as Athenry scored almost immediately, albeit in somewhat controversial circumstances. The men in maroon were awarded a free-kick from a seemingly unthreatening position, but the Sligo men appeared to be confused over whether or not the referee blew his whistle, as the free-kick bounced and landed just right for Cathal Fahy who slotted past O’Leary for 1-1. Their protests fell on deaf ears, however, as referee Jimmy Cawley was not interested.
The excellent Aaron Murren sent his free-kick straight into the arms of TJ Forde, before Neal McKenna’s cross was nodded goalwards by Savage, but Forde did well to gather. John Feeney’s men looked the more threatening after the interval, with Steve Feeney nodding Armstrong’s free-kick down for Savage, but he sent his shot well wide of the mark. Savage again came close near the hour mark when he dispossessed Athenry captain Paddy Ward, but he couldn’t keep his effort on target. He went for the spectacular seconds later, and it almost paid off when he controlled a long kick out with his chest, before he volleyed just wide. Carbury’s task wasn’t made any easier when they were reduced to ten on 63 minutes when Ross McLoughlin’s reckless challenge on Dan Cunningham saw the referee brandish a straight red card.
They were up against it while playing with ten men, but Carbury responded excellently. Colm O’Donovan’s stunning ball forward should have hit the back of the net with contact, but Cole Connolly got nowhere near it. Paddy Quinn’s cross into the box also should have been converted but O’Donovan somehow missed from two yards out.
Athenry were enjoying the better chances, but they were unable to make use of their possession. As both Feeney and Daniel Smith slipped, Jamie O’Driscoll was in a perfect position to score, but again it drifted wide before Ryan Shaughnessy skied his close range effort. Carbury were dealing well with everything Athenry threw at them and were well deserving of their lead on 81 minutes. As Aaron Murren began his run up the left wing, inside his own half he spotted TJ Forde off his line in the Athenry goal and unleashed a powerful strike that curled under the crossbar and into the back of the net, leaving the Athenry players dumbfounded. Athenry almost equalised immediately again, but O’Donovan’s close range shot was well saved by the alert O’Leary in goal. He did well again in injury time to save from goalscorer Fahy. And so that was it, a famous victory for a Carbury side that is sure to enjoy more success this season, with the Connacht Champions Cup and the Cleary Landscapes and Pitch Maintenance Cup already under their belt. ATHENRY: TJ FORDE, GARY O’CONNELL (MICK O’HALLORAN, 90), ADAM DUFFY (DAN CUNNINGHAM, 32), NATHAN WARD, PADDY QUINN, GARVIN BROUGHALL (JAMIE O’DRISCOLL, 70), COLM O’DONOVAN, STEPHEN RELIHAN (STEPHEN CUNNINGHAM, 84), COLE CONNOLLY (CONOR CANNON, 84), CATHAL FAHY, RYAN SHAUGHNESSY.
CARBURY: DANNY O’LEARY, NEAL MCKENNA, STEVE FEENEY, DANIEL SMITH, AARON MURREN, DAVID ADAMS, ROSS MCLOUGHLIN, GERRY BRENNAN, GARY ARMSTRONG, GARY FINAN, IBRA SAVAGE.
REFEREE: JIMMY CAWLEY.