Dungarvan secure double success with late goals
Dungarvan United celebrate after winning the WSFL Johnny Barnes Under 13A cup final against Bohemians at Ozier Park on Sunday last. Photos: Paul Elliott.
Two late second-half goals from James Ferncombe and Cathal MacCraith saw Dungarvan United come out on top against a depleted Bohemians side to land the WSFL Johnny Barnes Under 13A Cup Final at Ozier Park on Sunday morning last.
In a game that the Old Borough dominated against the league champions, all three goals came in the final ten minutes of the contest as the Western outfit finished the game strongly to eventually run out winners despite the late rally from Bohs to complete a double success.
James Ferncombe had the first chance of the game on five minutes, but he dragged a right-footed shot wide of the left-hand post before Callum Curran went close on 17 minutes, but the Bohs keeper Joe Byrne got down low to save.
Byrne was equal to the task once again for his side seven minutes later when he kept out a fine effort from Lee Duggan as his side continued to press for the lead goal before the woodwork denied Dungarvan the breakthrough a minute before the break.
Ferncombe got some space for himself down the left after combining with Sean Cullinane before crossing into the centre for Duggan, but his thunderous close-range effort came crashing back off the underside of the crossbar with keeper Joe Byrne beaten.
It was Ferncombe who was denied by the crossbar for Dungarvan on 33 minutes when he took a pass from Cullinane out on the left before bringing the ball onto his favoured right-foot on the top of the area, but the angle of the upright saved the day.
Bohemians had a big chance of their own to take the lead on 44 minutes when Joe Burke played an excellent through ball for Shane Butler down the right-side, but his cracking effort from a good position was well saved by Dungarvan keeper Sophie Lawlor.
When it looked as if the Kilrush Park outfit were running out of ideas in a bid to get the opening goal, it finally arrived on 53 minutes when Callum Curran led the charge down the left before crossing into the centre where the ball broke to James Ferncombe, and he swept the ball to the far corner from 18 yards.
It got even better for the league champions two minutes later as they doubled the lead when Curran turned provider again to set up Cathal MacCraith, who beat the offside trap, before hammering the ball to the left-hand corner past a helpless Joe Byrne.
Bohemians refused to lie down however and they gave themselves a very late lifeline back into the game deep into added time when Joe Burke split the Dungarvan defence with an excellent through ball that sent Finn Kavanagh into the clear on the right, and he hammered an unstoppable effort to the top corner.
Although four minutes were added at the end of the second-half, there was no comeback for Bohemians in a bid to force extra-time as Dungarvan held on to secure the double with captain James Ferncombe receiving the WSFL Johnny Barnes Under 13A Cup from Davy Cullen and Mary Ray.
Sophie Lawlor, Eamonn Byrne, Daire O Droma, Jack Nugent, Kristupass Narkevicius, Lee Duggan, Callum Curran, Dylan Radley, Cathal MacCraith, James Ferncombe, Cathal O’Sullivan, Gavin Healy, Daniel Shortall, Conor MacCraith, Ciaran Leahy, Daniel Buchakchyne, Sean Cullinane, Sam Morrissey, Lucas Ronayne.
Joe Byrne, Rian Byrne, Fionn Brennan, Daire Herlihy, Ryan Dwyer, Leo Barry, Sophie Whittle, Clara Cullinane, Shane Butler, Joe Burke, Ryan Egan, Charlie Nolan, Finn Kavanagh, Fionn Brennan, Darragh James.
Noel Connolly assisted by Stuart Kennedy and Michael Wall.
