Caherdrinna FC 1 Mogeely 1 (Mogeely win 7-6 on penalties)

What a game we witnessed in the final of the Liam Fitzgerald Cup, played last Saturday at Brideviews ground in Tallow against Mogeely. There was a huge buzz all week in anticipation for this game, and we weren’t to be disappointed this match had it all.

From the Kick off Caherdrinna settled well and took control, pressing hard into the Mogeely half and creating chances, on 8 mins John Frewen was unlucky to see his shot saved from a Kevin Masterson Through ball, and on 10 mins a goal bound Eddie Murphy free kick was kept out by the Mogeely keeper.

The breakthrough for Caherdrinna came on 14 mins, after some fine play across the middle of the pitch Brian Martin found Tony Graham, who in turn found Eddie, whose long looping pass found the feet of Gary Lynch who expertly lobbed the keeper to put Caherdrinna one up!!. Caherdrinna kept the momentum up and on 20 mins, John Frewen again was unlucky to see a shot go over the bar, and on 25 mins Jack O’Shea with a high dipping shot from 20 yards just tipped over the bar.

Despite all our pressure Mogeely were dangerous on the counter attack and came very close on the half hour mark when a rocket of a shot was expertly saved by our keeper Chris O’Donoghue. With only 3 mins left in the half, Mogeely got back on terms, a high cross into the Caherdrinna box found their striker, whose shot gave Christy no chance, 1-1.

The second half got underway with both sides pushing hard to get that all important goal, the tempo of the game not dropping one notch. Benny English and Bill Daly came on for Jack O’Shea and John Frewen, fair play to Jack and John they ran their hearts out and played so well. Every Caherdrinna man was playing out of their skin, even with Mogeely upping the pressure, the lads responded admirably.

Our central midfield of Tony Graham, Michael O’ Rourke and Eddie were controlling the middle of the pitch, making searching runs and dispatching the ball with accuracy to our wingers of Brian and Bill and up to the strike force of Gary and Benny, and at the other end our back line of Jamie O’Donoghue, J.J Graham, Kevin Masterson and keeper Christy kept Mogeely at bay.

With 30mins gone Benny was desperately unlucky not to score when his looping goal bound shot over the Mogeely keeper was only kept out by an alert Mogeely defenders head. At the other end, Christy pulled of an absolutely top class save when he found himself 1 on 1 with the Mogeely striker.

With 5 mins to go, Brian Martin, who like all, had a great game made way for Kevin Gould, who immediately found himself in the thick of the action, a through ball from Tony found Kevin G who held it up the laid it on sweetly for Gary whose shot was just inches over the bar. And so the game finished one apiece, and we found ourselves in a penalty shootout.

After the first 5 penalties for each side, the score was 3 each and we moved into the dreaded sudden death … Well folks to call this nail biting would be an understatement, we would score, they would score, we would miss, Christy would save, and so after 24 penalties the dead lock finally was broken and Mogeely got that all important score to lift the cup.

Congratulations to Mogeely on winning the cup in what was a truly fantastic game of soccer, and the best of luck to them for next season as they go up to the WW/EC Premier league. Many thanks to Brideview for their top class pitch and facilities.

Heartfelt commiserations to Caherdrinna, each and every player gave it their all, and they can hold their heads high on what was an absolutely magnificent performance. A special well done to our keeper Christy, his top class saves during the game and in the shootout earning him a well deserved Club Man of the Match. A big thanks from all the lads to our Manager Jimmy O’Donoghue, his relentless work for the club often goes unrecognised, but as we all know, he is the driving force behind Caherdrinna FC.

BINGO

We are having another of our ever popular club bingo nights on 31st May at 8.30pm in The Glocca Maura, all welcome for what is always a great night with some fabulous prizes to be won.

FACEBOOK

Find us on Facebook for loads of team news and photos, www.facebook.com/CaherdrinnaFc