*Newmarket Celtic captain Eoin Hayes receives the Hugh Kelly Cup from CDSL Chairman, Jason Ryan.
IN THE LATEST grudge match between Newmarket Celtic and Avenue Utd, the FAI Junior Cup champions took the spoils to get their hands on the Hugh Kelly Cup.
Newmarket Celtic 1
Avenue Utd 1
(Newmarket Celtic win 5-4 on penalties)
Venue: Frank Healy Park, Doora
For the second week in a row, Newmarket Celtic were victorious in a final following a penalty shootout with the Munster Champions Cup claimed last weekend in Fermoy.
This time, they prevailed over rivals Avenue Utd in a tight contest which saw both teams dominate a half each. As is the case in the League Cup final, there was no extra time when the sides remained deadlocked at the final whistle and the tie went straight to penalties where Newmarket hit five from five to come out on top.
On top from the get-go, Newmarket Celtic had a dream start when they took the lead after just three minutes. Eoin Hayes’ effort was saved, the resulting corner he executed perfectly as it met the head of Darragh Leahy who struck the net with an attempt that managed to elude Luke Woodrow.
Superior at imposing their physicality, Newmarket exerted their authority on the game to hold this lead as Avenue produced what appeared to be a nervous and tetchy opening half display.
They still had chances with Conor Mullen heading wide on the tenth minute and over on the twenty fourth minute. The dominant Shane Cusack was composed for anything that came his way and Newmarket’s cause is greatly strengthened by having one of the best junior soccer goalkeepers in the country lining out between the posts for them.
Hayes had another volley on the quarter hour mark but he missed the target with Avenue then began to produce the opportunities, first Dylan Casey had a poor attempt from a free before excellent work from Philip Talty helped to create the chance for Ronan Kerin but he slipped on the ball which allowed Celtic to clear their lines.
Harvey Cullinan had an expertly timed tackle to stop Avenue on their tracks when they beared down on goal with thirty three minutes on the clock. The next chance fell to Nnabuike Nneji after Steven McGann’s free was blocked by the wall but his shot went the wrong side of Cusack’s goal.
Newmarket almost doubled their advantage before half-time, Conor McDaid gave a lovely delivery out wide to Aaron Rudd who gave a thundering shot from his left boot but it went just wide.
Goalscorer Leahy had the first chance on the restart but lacked a small bit of compsure which meant he didn’t test Woodrow. Then Avenue began to find their feet, McGann’s delivery was headed by Ronan Kerin but stopped by Cusack.
Jack Kelly then entered Shane Hayes’ notebook when he took down McGann who had been on his way to create a goal-scoring chance. The resulting free came to nothing and within two minutes Conor McDaid was the second Newmarket Celtic player to get a booking which was a clear indicator of the questions Avenue were finally beginning to ask of them.
Their probing paid off, a long range free from Dylan Casey was headed backwards by Newmarket’s centre-half Ethan Fitzgerald and onto the path of Ronan Kerin who flicked the ball beyond Cusack and into the net to level matters on fifty two minutes.
Newmarket failed to penetrate the Avenue defence for most of the second half while further opportunites fell to David Russell’s side with Jamie Roche hitting one effort over the crossbar while a well-executed Dylan Casey volley was superbly stopped by Cusack.
Then the handbags which are becoming all too frequent in meetings between these two sides reared its head. David O’Grady was fouled by Philip Talty resulting in a yellow card for the Ennis man, tempers began to flare among players waiting for the free to be taken with Conor Mullen getting struck into the face from Leahy with an injury causing a little kerfuffle among more players and then Avenue Utd substitute Mikey Dinan who was off the field was sent off by referee Shane Hayes for what is understood to be foul and abusive language towards the match official.
Late tackles continued when play resumed with Gearoid O’Brien the next to be flashed with a yellow card.
Avenue found themselves down to ten men for the final ten minutes after goalkeeper Luke Woodrow handled the ball outside his box, his dismissal led to full-back Jamie Roche taking over as the custodian and he didn’t weaken their cause making two fine catches from looming crosses.
Leahy and Casey had chances at either end before the sounding of the full-time whistle but before that there was another yellow, this time Mark Roche found himself in the referee’s book.
For penalties, Mark Roche was up first and hit his effort over the crossbar, it was five from five for Newmarket with Ronan McCormack, Tadhg Noonan, David McCarthy, Darragh Leahy and Harvey Cullinan all hitting the target, so did the Avenue quartet of Ronan Kerin, Philip Talty, Dylan Casey and Dylan Barry but it didn’t change the outcome.
Regrettably the tie didn’t conclude without some drama. Fortunately there was no melees or persons running on the pitch this time round but there was still verbal abuse of match officials by players and mentors which the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) need to stand up to if they are serious about showing respect for their referees.
Bitter jibes coming from high-ranking officials from Avenue Utd towards certain opposing players are not befitting of the roles these people find themselves in and reflection is certainly needed here. A greater respect between the clubs needs to be encouraged and this can be aided by a positive example set by those at the top.
Back to the football which is what should always be about. Newmarket Celtic’s strength in depth was pivotal, they were able to bring on players who didn’t weaken the cause but instead added quality, they started the game with a swagger but must recognise that their start to the second half will cost them when the sides meet again.
Players like Tadhg Noonan and Billy McCarthy have shown immeasurable progress as the season has gone on while their best on the day included Shane Cusack and Harvey Cullinan.
Avenue Utd lost Stephen Jordan, Nnabuike Nneji and Steven McGann to injury while they were also minus Elias Kunz, Conor Hehir, Mossy Hehir and Eoghan Thynne for the game. Thynne was in action for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in the Cusack Cup, a decision which may have been influenced by his recent omission from the starting eleven. In this contest, Conor Mullen, Stephen Jordan and Philip Talty did best.
Regardless of who was missing, Avenue seem to be hindering themselves on selection by not having their players in their most optimal roles. Philip Talty scored two goals off the left wing last week but started as a striker but when he moved out wide for the second half it coincided with Avenue beginning to ask more questions. Similarly Steven McGann would cause much more problems if given a more offensive role.
There’s two more pieces of silverware on offer in the county that both Newmarket Celtic and Avenue Utd will be vying for, the Premier Division title and the Clare Cup. For future clashes, here’s hoping it will be the football and only that which serves as the main talking point.
Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack; David O’Grady, Harvey Cullinan, Ethan Fitzgerald, Billy McNamara; Jack Kelly; Aaron Rudd, Conor McDaid; Eoin Hayes, Darragh Leahy; Tadgh Noonan.
Subs: Kevin Harnett for McDaid (53),Gearoid O’Brien for Rudd (60), Ronan McCormack for Kelly (66), David McCarthy for Hayes (66),
Avenue Utd: Luke Woodrow; Cullen McCabe, Conor Mullen, Dylan Casey Jamie Roche; Nnabuike Nneji, Stephen Jordan, Steven McGann, Mark Roche, Ronan Kerin, Philip Talty.
Subs: Mohammad Annane for Jordan (68) (inj), Dylan Barry for Nneji (77) (inj), Owen Hadden for McGann (85) (inj)
Referee: Shane Hayes
