Tipperary Town's St Michael's are Kings of Munster Junior soccer once again

MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP FINAL

ST MICHAEL'S 3 VILLA FC WATERFORD 1

Tipperary Town side St Michael’s recorded their tenth Munster Junior Cup final win on Sunday in Fermoy, winning out over the team that knocked them out of this year’s FAI Junior Cup, Villa FC from Waterford.

The Saints first win was back in 1973 against another Wateford side Johnville, and this latest victory means that they now stretch their lead at the top of the roll of honour of this prestigious provincial competition.

The win was set up by a brilliant first half attacking display and a resolute defensive showing in the second half.
The TSDL side were 2-0 up at the interval following two sensational goals.

The first on 28 minutes, when Jimmy Carr accelerated ahead of his marker John Fred Tamen, and when the tackle came he held his feet and found the strength to power a low shot across the keeper Craig Dunphy who got a touch but the ball nestled snugly in the net.

Villa had hardly steadied when five minutes minutes later, Rhys O’Regan’s shot was blocked for a corner which he delivered unerringly himself to the back of the penalty area, and Paul Breen rose and powered home from ten yards out with a trademark header, that will rank amongst his best, and there have been many of those in a long illustrious career.

Villa had started brightly and a hooked volley on the turn from Dean Walsh was just wide in the fifth minute. But once the Tipperary town side found their feet, they were the dominant force. They could have been even further ahead at the break, when most notably two Ed O’Dwyer efforts were well saved by Dunphy, and a Russell Quirke 25 yarder was tipped onto the bar.

Shortly before the break Quirke broke clear from halfway and unleashed from just outside the box but again Dunphy denied him.

It looked like Saints were in a great position as they took a two goal lead into a second half aided by a breeze but the Waterford side kept playing positively and Luke Walsh kept their momentum going by dropping back tirelessly in the centre to try to get them back into the game.

A goal came in 62nd minute when a free conceded by St Michael’s on the right was delivered powerfully by Dean Conway and met at the far post by an unstoppable header from Aaron O’Connor to make it 2-1.

Shortly after this Paul Breen showed fantastic agility to hook a high ball clear from the inrushing substitute Regix Madika, who went down clutching his face but the referee wasn’t moved by his claims for a penalty.

Breen had to leave the field shortly after that effort and a defensive reshuffle saw the dependable Murphy drop across to right back. DJ Cremins shift to the centre with Cian Fadden and Donough Hickey coming on at left back.

The game was reaching boiling point now and every ball was contested for ferociously, and the Limerick officials who performed brilliantly and kept cool in the face of heated claims for frees and fouls kept an exciting game flowing, despite one or two stoppages for injuries.

Saints had two or three chances on the breakaway. Jimmy Carr broke down the right and his pull back was knocked out for a corner with Ed O’Dwyer waiting to pounce. O’Dwyer was unlucky 20 minutes from time to see his shot pulled down well by the Villa keeper when it looked goal bound.

At the other end keeper Adrian Walsh did well on a couple of occasions, once even when his punch clear hit the attackers head but his agility saw him first to the loose ball and he clutched it safely.

Saints midfielders Colin Bargary and Cillian Coonan really upped their running, covering and tackling in the final quarter and when the hard graft was required none of the Saints players were found wanting.

They were now using all their experience to see the game out and the final twist came when Villa gambled everything for a last minute corner and sent their keeper Dunphy forward, but brilliant defending again and a couple of passes later Ashley Kelliher showed his speed as he won the race for a long ground pass and shot into an empty net to herald delirious scenes as the final whistle sounded.

A great win against great opposition in Villa who had the awful disappointment of two major cup exits within seven days of each other, something that happened Michael’s a few years ago when they lost out on penalties against Sherriff FC up in Clontarf in the FAI Junior Cup, and again against Carrick United at Cooke Park in the Munster Junior Cup seven days later.

But that was all forgotten on Sunday last and the famous club will celebrate this win long after weekend.
Another notch on the belt of history.