Surprise in Tipperary Youths Cup final as league champions are denied the double

Tipperary Youths Cup final

Cullen Lattin 3 – 2 Clonmel Celtic (AET)

On a sunny Sunday afternoon Cooke Park hosted the Tipperary Youth Cup Final, with Clonmel Celtic going into the game was warm favourites after winning this year's Youths title. But no one told the hardy west Tipperary lads of Cullen and Lattin, and by the end of the afternoon, after serving up some wonderful entertainment, it was Cullen Lattin who emerged victorious to take the cup home the short few miles to great celebrations from their watching supporters.

It wasn’t as big as surprise to those in the know of youths football this season, as Cullen were one of only two teams to beat Celtic in that winning league campaign, and after a tight and tense first quarter, they drew first blood, when they opened the scoring in the 24th minute, after a well delivered ball by Tom Ryan Bob was met at the back post for Tristan Stokes to head home.

This seemed to awaken the league champions however, and they started to dominate midfield and finished the half the stronger side. They got the perfect opportunity to level the scoring when they were awarded a penalty six minutes before the break, but much to the relief of their opponents, they spurned the opportunity and Cullen went to the break a goal to the good.

But the pattern of Celtic dominance continued in the early part of the second period and only for Micheál Ryan Bob in the Cullen goals would have being back in the game straight from the off of the second half.
But they finally did get their reward in the 57th minute when a well delivered corner was headed home by Jake Forristal to level the game.
Cullen looked tired and leggy at this point, and suffered further when they went behind 22 minutes from time after some good work down the left saw the ball fall to the feet of Aaron Costin, and he tapped home from close range.

But Cullen Lattin didn’t give up and sprung some fresh legs from the edge and made a few tactical tweaks. One of which paid off, when Paddy Downey who had been moved into centre forward, was fouled just outside the area, and up stepped Tom Ryan Bob to fire the free kick into the top corner, and level the game again at 2-2.

It was Celtic who finished stronger, but the Cullen keeper was in inspired form and he made some spectacular saves to ensure that his side would get at least another 20 minutes of extra time to try to find a winner.
Both teams had chances in the first half but no extra goals were scored, and at the kick off for the second period, Celtic made an inexplicable error that allowed Javi Serrano to square a cross to Paddy Downey who rolled the ball into the net.

This seemed to drain the energy from the Clonmel side, and the home defence made sure that they would get no more clear chances on goal, ensuring a famous victory for the West Tipperary side, to the delight of all their connections and supporters.