Heartbreak as brave St Michael's lose FAI Junior Cup final in penalty shootout

FAI Junior Cup Final

ST MICHAEL’S 1 NEWMARKET CELTIC 1

(after extra-time, Newmarket Celtic win 5-4 on penalties)

There was heartbreak for St Michael’s of Tipperary Town in the FAI Junior Cup final against Newmarket Celtic at a manicured Jackman Park, Limerick, on Saturday evening last, the Saints going down, agonisingly by 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out.

The two evenly matched teams couldn’t be separated in 90 minutes of normal time, the game finishing 1-1, with St Michael’s forced to play the full 20 minutes of extra-time with a numerical disadvantage, after centre half Paul Breen was dismissed for a second yellow card a few minutes from the end of normal time.

Under the cosh, especially during the opening half of extra-time, the Saints with a mix of timely defending and a couple of saves from Adrian Walsh, survived until the penalty shootout. In an almost perfect exhibition, nine of the 10 penalties were converted, but that one missed chance was to ultimately decide the destination of the coveted trophy. After eight wins, with victories included against teams from Tipperary, Waterford, Dublin, Donegal and Wexford, St Michael’s epic bid for a fourth FAI Junior Cup was cruelly decided in those brief moments.

It was a day when both defences, composed and professional, were on top with real chances for goals few and far between. Paul Breen and DJ Cremins hardly put a foot wrong all day, with Sean Murphy, and especially Donagh Hickey, putting in fine displays in full back roles.

A younger Newmarket Celtic, appearing in their first-ever final, settled early, and enjoyed that little bit more possession in the opening quarter, even if neither keeper was to be tested. For the most part long balls were the order of the day early on, but St Michael’s, with midfielder Joey Mulcahy growing into the game began to assert themselves more on proceedings around the middle. The first chance of the game went the way of the Saints when Edmond O’Dwyer squeezed a ball through for Colin Bargary to chase but the Boherlahan man lost his footing at the vital time and the half-chance was gone.

But it remained cagey in the first half as cup finals can, both sides conservative as if not losing was more important than taking chances to win. St Michael’s best opportunity to open the scoring arrived just after the half hour mark when the experienced Joey Mulcahy had a great chance from dead centre on the 18 yard line but pulled his effort wide of the keeper’s right hand side.

Soon after the Clare side went ahead  through a penalty scored by Harvey Cullinan after their star forward Eoin Hayes had been impeded just inside the area. Recently returned from a contract at Sheffield United, Cullinan held his nerve to plant his left footed effort low into the corner beyond Adrian Walsh much to the delight of the huge red and white support which well outnumbered the Tipperary contingent on the day.

With an injection of confidence now, the Banner boys had the better of the closing minutes of the opening half but a solid St Michael’s back four still stood strong.

St Michael’s came more into it at the start of the second half with Edmond O’Dwyer just wide in the 50th minute when from the edge of the box he attempted to curl a shot in at the far post which went just wide. Two minutes later David Slattery had another half chance for the Tipperary Town outfit but his header was wide.

But the signs were positive with Jimmy Carr beginning to express himself more down the left wing with some dangerous crosses. Two corners in quick succession for the Saints eventually yielded the goal they deserved. Joey Mulcahy’s second corner bobbed in the area and like a flash Cashel’s David Slattery, opportunistically like the experienced striker he is, reacted quickest to hook the ball into the corner beyond Shane Cusack 11 minutes after the restart. Game on.

Open spaces which rarely existed in the opening 45 minutes were beginning to develop as the game entered the last quarter with St Michael’s slightly looking the more likely to shade it. But Newmarket Celtic were still a threat on the break with their captain, Irish international Eoin Hayes and Darragh Leahy dangerous when given opportunities.

St Michael’s introduced Shane Ryan for Bargary on 73 minutes and the Bansha youngster’s energy helped hugely for the remainder of the game, covering every inch of grass. Seven minutes from time Ashley Kelliher replaced David Slattery, as manager John Cremins, freshened things up further in an absorbing contest.

Five minutes from time came perhaps the game’s crucial moment. Newmarket Celtic’s Eoin Hayes looked to be through on goal only for Paul Breen to put in a last ditch challenge just outside the penalty area to deny the shot on goal. However, the referee deemed it illegal, and sent Breen off for a second yellow card.

In the four minutes of added time at the end of the 90, both sides had chances to steal it.

St Michael’s opportunity fell to  Edmond O’Dwyer whose effort was superbly denied at the expense of a corner, while, with literally the last kick of normal time, David McCarthy’s excellent free from just outside the area came back off the St Michael’s upright.

In the opening period of extra-time, 10-man St Michael’s were limited to a single chance from Chris Higgins, the 2019 winning captain on for Jimmy Carr in a reshuffle after Paul Breen’s sending off. But it was Newmarket Celtic who had the better of that first half with a succession of corners and two goal line clearances were needed to keep the Saints alive.

St Michael’s did better in the second half of extra-time but it was still backs to the wall as Newmarket Celtic, strengthened with the introduction of former junior international Stephen Kelly, and former Donegal inter-county footballer Eunan Doherty, sought that elusive goal from play. Saints’ best chance in this period fell to Shane Ryan who forced a good save from Shane Cusack.

The dreaded penalty shootout went 2-2 with Joey Mulcahy and Christopher Higgins opening up the account for the Tipperary Town side. Shane Ryan’s effort was then well saved by Shane Cusack giving Newmarket Celtic the advantage, and despite converted efforts from Ashley Kelliher and Russell Quirke the Clare side stayed pitch perfect and there was to be no way back for St Michael’s.

For Newmarket Celtic it was a magnificent first ever win and they now can bring off a super double with the Munster Junior Cup final against Regional of Limerick still to come.

St Michael’s AFC:

Adrian Walsh, Sean Murphy (Adam McGrath, 103 mins), Donagh Hickey, Denis John Cremins, Paul Breen, Joseph Mulcahy, Jimmy Carr (captain, Christopher Higgins, 89), Colin Bargary (Shane Ryan, 73), David Slattery (Ashley Kelliher, 83), Edmond O’Dwyer, Russell Quirke.

Subs: Christopher Higgins, Adam McGrath, Shane Ryan, Ashley Kelliher, Rhys Byron, William O’Dwyer, Robert McGrath.

Manager: John Cremins.

Newmarket Celtic FC:

Shane Cusack, David O’Grady, Conor McDaid, Harvey Cullinan, Ethan Fitzgerald, Jack Kelly, Kevin Hartnett (Doherty, 71 mins), Gearóid O’Brien (Stephen Kelly, 80), Darragh Leahy (Gary Higgins, 108), Eoin Hayes (captain), David McCarthy (Ronan McCormack, HT ET).

Subs: Ronan McCormack, David Lennon, Stephen Kelly, Eoin Kelly, Eunan Doherty, Gary Higgins, Dermot Gannon.

Manager: Paddy Purcell.

Referee: Alin Suteu, Asst Ref 1 John Hanney, Asst Ref 2 Paul Shelley, 4th Official John Thornton.