Connell’s crucial strike settles cup final battle
Brendan Rea of the WDJL presents Ferrybank captain Daniel Donnelly with the Ball Corporation Under 17B Cup at Ozier Park on Sunday. Photos: Paul Elliot.
Ryan Connell produced a player of the match display as Ferrybank AFC lifted the Ball Corporation Under 17B Cup after a thrilling 2-1 win over Waterford Crystal played at a scorching Ozier Park on Sunday morning.
The midfielder was instrumental in his side’s win as they saw out the game with a strong finish after Crystal had Daniel Barry sent off by referee Luke Brennan with 67 minutes which was a key moment in the contest.
It was Crystal that created the first chance of the game on nine minutes when Jack Waring slipped the ball out to the left for Matteo Miccoli, but he fired inches over the crossbar of the Ferrybank keeper Evan Mullaly when he should have hit the target.
David Imiren did have the ball in the back of the Crystal net with 12 minutes on the clock when he touched home an original shot from Rory Simpson, but the flag of assistant referee Damien Kelly was raised for offside.
Juwon Ajayi had a big chance for his side three minutes later when he cut in from the left-side of the penalty area, but his cracking left-footed strike fizzed inches over the crossbar before the same player fired over from a good position once again on 17 minutes.
Ferrybank got their noses in front from the penalty spot six minutes later when David Imiren cut in from the left before he was brought down by Daniel Barry, and the winger stood over the spot-kick that he dispatched past Crystal netminder Aaron McCabe.
The sides were back on level terms on 25 minutes when Daniel Barry found space for himself out on the right before drilling in a shot that was saved by keeper Evan Mullally, but Jack Waring was on hand to bundle the ball home from close-range.
Mullally produced a stunning save to deny Crystal the lead goal on 39 minutes when Matteo Miccoli played a perfect pass into the path of Jack Waring, who cracked in a shot that saw the netminder get down well to keep it out.
It was the turn of the Waterford Crystal keeper Aaron McCabe to come to his sides rescue with a brilliant save five minutes into the second-half. Rory Simpson fed the ball into the feet of David Imiren that played him through clear on goal, but his low shot was superbly tipped around the post.
The netminder was in the thick of the action sixty seconds later from the resulting corner-kick when making another top class save as Eoin Brosnan sent over a right-wing corner that saw the ball fall to Gabriele Obakhare, but his shot was kept out.
Ferrybank struck for what proved to be the winning goal with 57 minute on the clock when Brosnan swung in a brilliant left-wing free-kick that fell nicely for Ryan Connell, and he hammered a left-footed finish past a helpless McCabe.
Crystal’s Daniel Barry saw a red card from referee Luke Brennan ten minutes later after an incident with Ferrybank’s Anil Ramasamwy that put his side on the back foot, but the city side did have a couple of late chances with Noah McCormack having a header tipped over after a Ethan Murtagh corner late on.
After the game, Brendan Rea was on hand to present the cup to a delighted Ferrybank captain Daniel Donnelly with the match winner Ryan Connell picking up the player of the match accolade after a super display for his side.
Aaron McCabe, Lochlann Bernos (Luca Di Bernardino 61), Ethan Murtagh, Juwon Ajayi (Jamie Williams 61), Josh Jacob, Zach Reinl, Daniel Barry, Ben Quilty, Jack Waring (Odhrán Hanlon 85), Noah McCormack, Matteo Miccoli (Bobby Behan 55).
Evan Mullally, Nathan Collopy (Shane Aldridge 46), Daniel Donnelly, Corey O’Brien, Zack Keane (Daniel Rolfe 72), Rory Simpson, Anil Ramasamwy, Ryan Connell, Gabriele Obakhare (Matthew Roche 65), Eoin Brosnan, David Imiren (Sean Marco Rizzo 88).
Referee: Luke Brennan assisted by Damien Kelly and Jim Kealy.
