Cussen hits cup final winner for Rangers
The Park Rangers players and management celebrate their win over Portlaw in the Roy Power U-15B Cup Final at Graun Park on Saturday. Photo: Paul Elliott.
Park Rangers had to dig deep to win the Roy Power Under 15 Cup at Graun Park on Saturday afternoon.
Rangers were reduced to ten men with 14 minutes left on the clock as they lost striker Thomas Maher to a red card, however Rangers showed real grit and Thomas Cussen fired home the winner to give the Faithlegg club a deserved victory.
It was Portlaw who took up the early running as they went on the attack right from the kick off. On seven minutes Kevin Lyons got behind the Rangers defence and played the ball wide to Harry Carroll but his first time effort was well saved by Rangers keeper Matthew Lyons. With their next attack Portlaw opened the scoring on 11 minutes. Eoin McNamara split the Rangers defence with a superb pass and Kevin Lyons raced clear to slip the ball into the net beyond the advancing Matthew Lyons.
It took Rangers some time to settle into the game and on 13 minutes they came close to equalising. Rua Clancy whipped in a corner-kick and Ewan Hogan got a touch at the near post but the Portlaw defence scrambled the ball clear. Rangers went close again on 20 minutes, Ewan Hogan fired in a volley from the edge of the box that was heading into the far corner of the net but up popped Portlaw defender Aidan Walsh to clear off the line.
Ten minutes later the ball broke in the box for Rangers striker Thomas Cussen but he side footed over the bar from a good position. Portlaw had the last chance of the second half when Daithi Power played a clever pass to Harry Carroll but he shot into the side netting.
Seven minutes into the second-half Park Rangers equalised. Calum Palmer raced down the left wing and pulled the ball across the box for Calum O’Brien and the Rangers skipper drove the ball into the far corner of the net in off the post. It was an even contest as we approached the 56 minute mark but then the game took a dramatic twist.
Park Rangers were ready to make a substitution, with Thomas Mahr being replaced. However Maher had words with the referee on his way off the pitch and he was then shown a red card for foul and abusive language towards the referee so Park Rangers were reduced to ten men.
Then three minutes later on 59 minutes Thomas Cussen scored what proved to be the winning goal. Cussen picked up a pass from Calum Palmer 20 yards from goal, the Rangers striker let fly with a left foot shot that beat the keeper and went into the net in off the far post. With time running out Portlaw pushed everybody into the attack but the Park Rangers defence stood firm, however in the last minute Portlaw got the opportunity to equalise. A long goal kick was flicked on by Harry Carroll and Kevin Lyons was onto it in a flash, he controlled the ball but Rangers keeper Matthew Lyons was quick off his line and Kevin Lyons was forced to take the ball early and he lifted the ball over the bar.
Matthew Lyons, Charlie Corcoran, Rua Clancy, Ewan Hogan, Finn Fleming, Evan Ewake, Calum Palmer, Calum O’Brien, Thomas Maher, Thomas Cussen, Isaac Gunnip, Gabriel Stipic, Tadhg O’Shea, Paul Casey, Dean Conway, Maty Petros, Shay Coffey
Aidan Walsh, Harry Carroll, Eimhin Mullowney, Daith Power, Jack Sheriff, Patrik Chojnacka, Liam Conneely, Jay Flannery, Cian Geraghty, Eoin McNamara, Jerry Chen, Charlie Walsh, Harry Mackey, Freddie Murphy, Mark Nolan, Cian Power, Evan Walsh Kevin Lyons.
Noel Connelly. Assisted by Michael Kealy and Luke Brennan.
