De La Salle snatch penalty shootout success
The De La Salle team celebrate their win over Ferrybank in the Jimmy O'Dwyer U13B Cup Final at Graun Park on Sunday last. Photos: Paul Elliott.
Despite the best attempts of their goalkeeper Lenson Maher Mate, Ferrybank suffered a heartbreak penalty shootout defeat at the hands of De La Salle as the Williamstown club snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the WSFL Jimmy O’Dwyer Under 13B Cup Final at Graun Park on Sunday last.
The Ferrybank netminder made a string of saves in the first-half to keep the eventual victors at bay, and when Rory Delahunty’s scored a 39th minute goal, it looked as if was going to be difference, but they conceded a penalty deep into added time that sent the game to extra-time before losing on spot-kicks.
It was De La Salle that created the first real chance of the contest on 13 minutes when Louis Daly sent over a left-wing cross that was blocked into the path of Nathan Solomon, but his close-range effort was somehow kept out by keeper Maher Mate.
A tremendous save from the Ferrybank keeper kept their opponents at bar once again three minutes later when Darragh O’Sullivan took possession of the ball on the left-side of the area, but his stunning effort was brilliantly tipped away.
An inspired Lenson Maher Mate was to the rescue of his side with 19 minutes on the clock when O’Sullivan latched onto the ball on the penalty spot, but his brilliant effort that seemed destine for the top corner was turned out for a corner-kick.
Even when the second-half started, it was the Williamstown club on the front foot and within two minutes, Darragh O’Sullivan sent over a right-wing corner that picked out the run of Joey Kirby in the centre, but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.
Those missed chances proved costly for De La Salle as they fell behind with 39 minutes on the clock when Cameron Knight down well out on the left-side to fed the ball into Rory Delahunty, and he curled a right-footed shot to the far corner past a helpless James Hall.
Ferrybank sat back after that goal as they really limited the attacking threat of De La Salle with no real chances created by either team, but there was one more dramatic moment. Nathan Solomon sent a hopeful ball into the area that was handled by a Ferrybank defender, and Conor Douglas dispatched the spot-kick past a helpless Lenson Maher Mate.
Extra-time saw De La Salle go in search of an equalising goal with the post denying them within a minute of the first-period when Louis Daly got free down the right-side, but his effort came back off the far post before Joey Kirby became the latest player to be denied by Ferrybank keeper Lenson Maher Mate.
The penalty shootout went the way of De La Salle as they netted their four spot-kicks through Darragh O’Sullivan, Conor Douglas, Joey Kirby, and captain Sam Obleajev, with Rory Delahunty and Cameron Knight on target for Ferrybank.
After the game, Peter O’Dwyer presented the WSFL Jimmy O’Dwyer Under 13B Cup to De La Salle skipper Sam Obleajev as his side celebrated a great victory.
James Hall, Christian Robinson, Alex O’Connor, Joey Kirby, Sam Obleajev, Robbie McCarthy, Darragh O’Sullivan, Broady Campbell, Nathan Solomon, Conor Douglas, Louis Daly.
Lenson Maher Mate, Noah Hamilton, Oisin Cuddy, Ollie Robinson, Scott Delahunty, Sean Croke, Paul Quinn, Rory Delahunty, Conor Sheehan, Cameron Knight, Luke Simpson, Tadhg Magee, Fionn Fell, Rory Kirwan, Nathan Hanrahan.
Stuart Kennedy assisted by Wayne Marshall and John Burke.
