Brilliant late Power brace wins Carrick’s cup crown
Carrick United team celebrate after winning the WSFL Tom Drohan Under 14B Cup Final to complete the double. Photos: Paul Elliott.
Fionn Power showed his pure quality with two stunning strikes in second-half injury-time as Carrick United secured a league and cup double success with a 3-1 win over near neighbours Piltown AFC in the WSFL Tom Conway Under 14B Cup Final at a scorching Graun Park on Sunday afternoon last.
When it looked as if extra-time would be needed to sort out a keenly contested affair, Power, who ran himself into the ground despite picking up an early caution, struck two beauties to land the double for his side.
After Piltown had no early luck in the game losing two players to injury, they gave their all throughout the contest especially when they levelled, but they were undone by Power’s two magical moments that ultimately decided the outcome of the game.
It was the crossbar that denied the league champions the lead goal on 13 minutes when Jodie Roche whipped in a brilliant right-wing corner-kick that found the head of defender Oran Norris, but his free header came crashing back off the woodwork.
Fionn Power fired in a shot that was well handled by the Piltown netminder Dean Dwyer on 20 minutes before the breakthrough arrived three minutes later. Ryan Prenderville played a perfectly weighted pass down the left that saw David Osazuwa, and he beat keeper Dwyer at his near post with a super strike.
Piltown had a chance of their own deep into first-half added time when Brodie Wheeler found space for himself on the left-side of the area, but keeper Ryan Crowley produced a good save as his side went in leading at the break.
After Fionn Power flashed a shot inches wide of the far post on 41 minutes, his side were pegged back with an equalising goal three minutes later. Ronan Knox sent over a free-kick from the left that wasn’t dealt with by the Carrick header and Brodie Wheeler was on hand to head home from close-range.
Piltown did have the ball in the Carrick net five minutes before the final whistle, but the goal was disallowed for an offside call that was unlucky not to go the way of the attacking player as he seemed to be onside when put clear, but the flag was raised.
As it looked for certain that the game would go to extra-time, there was another twist as Carrick got their noses in front once again a minute into added time when Fionn Power’s deflected effort beat Piltown keeper Dean Dwyer to find the bottom left-hand corner.
Power scored an absolute screamer to ensure the double when he arrowed an unstoppable right-footed shot from 25-yards when he took possession of the ball on the left-side of the area, and he gave keeper Dean Dwyer no chance whatsoever as the final whistle sounded minutes later to jubilant scenes.
After the game, Carrick United defender Craig O’Donnell picked up the Tom Conway Under 14B Cup from Brendan Conway as his side completed the double as Piltown were left might have been as they returned to the dressing room after the presentation with Carrick toasting Power’s brilliant brace.
Ryan Crowley, Ryan Prenderville, Oran Norris, Craig O’Donnell, Alex O’Dwyer, Charlie Power, Fionn Power, Zac Clery, David Osazuwa, Jodie Roche, Michael Keyes, Rory Quinlan, Aidan Doyle, Charlie Skehan, Darragh Revutsky, Holly Kirby, Ordhan Reade, Aidan Sweetman.
Dean Dwyer, Jason Grace, Ronan Knox, Cillian Power, Ronan Connolly, Sean Carroll, Alex Stuart, Jack Farrell, Ian Gahan, Brodie Wheeler, Jamie Lonergan, Ray Grace, Noah Murray, Jack Henry.
Adam Walsh assisted by Damien Kelly and Keith Ryan.
