Penalty delight sees Suncroft crowned as champions
Suncroft FC celebrate becoming Shield champions
It was Suncroft who eventually lifted the KDFL Senior/Premier Shield after a penalty shootout following an action packed game.
Tadgh Hipwell scored the only goal of the half for Suncroft but the second half was a very entertaining affair. In search of an equaliser from the outset, Suncroft created the first proper chance of the half, with some ping pong in Rathangan’s box leading to a headed opportunity for Craig Durney from six yards out which he nodded over the bar in the 49th minute.
They created the next good chance as well, with Shane Dillon playing a nice through ball in on goal for Eoin Margee who made a good connection but saw his effort go too close to Kyle Maloney. Suncroft’s pressure paid off however, in the 57th minute when they equalised. Tadhg Hipwell picked up a bouncing ball about 25 yards out and fired a brilliant strike into the left bottom corner.
Rathangan responded well to the goal with a couple of dangerous attacks, one ending with a dangerous long range strike over the bar and the other with a headed chance that was glanced wide. Suncroft had the better of the play overall though in the second half, with further chances coming for Hipwell, Cathal Mahon, Magee and Durney.
However, Rathangan had a good spell from around the 80th minute onwards, with Arun Doyle producing a good effort before Lee Moore produced what appeared at the time to be the killer blow with a close range finish in the 85th minute, with Iain Doyle supplying the assist.
Suncroft appeared dead and buried but lifted themselves off the floor to throw the kitchen sink at the men in sky blue one last time. In the 90th minute, they produced the golden chance, Durney given the opportunity to equalise from close range. Much to the dismay of the crowd from south of the Curragh, the striker missed his opportunity and the game appeared over. Garreth Sage had different ideas, however. The attacker picked the ball up on the left wing in the second minute of injury time, cut in and executed a spectacular curled effort into the far corner to send the game to extra-time.
The first half of extra time was slow and turgid, with injuries breaking up play. The only clear chance was one for Moore from an Arun Doyle set up but the former poked his effort wide. The second period was far more entertaining. Suncroft created two good chances for Robert Burke and Dean Hanlon, neither of which converted, but they eventually went ahead for the first time in the game in the 106th minute. A corner delivery from the right met the head of the outstanding Hipwell, who glanced the ball into the far corner.
The lead didn’t last. In injury time, with Rathangan throwing bodies forward, two successive efforts on Suncroft’s goal hit the arms of defending players. Both were from close range but referee Martin Hickey pointed to the spot. Moore converted the spot-kick, going straight down the middle with Doyle diving to his right.
Penalties were inevitably tense and nerve-shredding for both sets of supporters. Iain Doyle and Magee stepped up first for their sides and both scored with well taken spot-kicks. Moore then made no mistake for the second time in a few minutes, before Hipwell squeezed his effort home despite Kyle Maloney getting a leg to it.
Arun Doyle tucked his effort home emphatically before Cathal Mahon sent his effort over the bar, leaving the scoreline reading 3-2 to Rathangan with two kicks left apiece. Timas Kacinskas stepped up then and dragged his effort wide before Bailey Farrelly equalised with a great penalty. Johnny Igoe made it 4-3 before Dean Hanlon made no mistake and sent the shootout to sudden death.
Nathan Cullen tucked his effort into the corner, which was followed by Suncroft keeper Doyle stepping up and finishing convincingly. Young Oran McDonnell put Rathangan's seventh and final effort over the bar, giving Dylan O’Reilly Guilfoyle the opportunity to clinch the shield. Maloney got his hand to it but it was a firm effort and found the back of the net. O’Reilly Guilfoyle was mobbed by his teammates and Suncroft had their moment in the sun.
This was a great spectacle with both sides intent on playing good football whilst under the pressure of it being a cup final. Rathangan didn’t create enough over the course of the second-half and extra-time to have any strong complaints over the result. They are a good side, with midfielders Iain Doyle and Arun Doyle quality performers on the day, whilst goalkeeper Kyle Maloney made some great saves.
Suncroft were deserving winners, however. They showed tremendous spirit to come back twice in normal time and in the penalty shootout. Tadgh Hipwell and Garreth Sage both displayed their skill and technique, and overall it was a great team performance.
S Doyle; JJ Hartnett (Dean Hanlon 100), A Bailey Farrelly, Dylan O’Reilly Guilfoyle, Shane Dillon (Robert Burke 89); Eoin Magee, Tadgh Hipwell, Seamus Murphy (Adam Boland 88); Cathal Mahon, Craig Durney (Josh Thackaberry 107), Garreth Sage (Michael Duggan 109).
Kyle Maloney; Nathan Cullen, James Brennan, Tommy Murphy, Matthew Dunne (Oisin Conroy 108) ; Iain Doyle, Arun Doyle; Finn Black (Timas Kacinskas 67), Colm Cunningham (Jonny Igoe h/t), O Dempsey (Óran McDonnell 67); Lee Moore.
Martin Hickey
