Ferrybank secure double triumph with second-half show
The Ferrybank AFC Under 11E Squad celebrate their win over Park Rangers in the Fank O'Byrne Cup at Graun Park last Saturday. Photos: Paul Elliott.
Four second-half goals after surviving three first-half crossbar strikes saw Ferrybank AFC secure a brilliant league and cup double success as they overcame the challenge of Park Rangers like they done in the league in landing the WSFL Frank O’Byrne Under 11E Cup Final at Graun Park on Saturday last.
After the Abbeylands outfit managed to land the league by two points ahead of the Faithlegg club, they were put under pressure in the first-half with keeper Zak Daly making two unbelievable saves to deny James Hearne with two unreal saves onto the bar.
The first chance of the game fell to Park Rangers with four minutes on the clock when Will Carey found space for himself out on the right-side of the penalty area, but his low effort was saved by the Ferrybank netminder.
It was the turn of the Park Rangers keeper Darragh Hegarty to produce a good save to deny the victors the lead goal four minutes later when Eoin Murphy picked up possession of the ball on the left-side of the area, but his low effort was also kept out.
Zak Daly produced the first of his stunning stops with 11 minutes on the clock when midfielder James Hearne picked up possession of the ball on the halfway line before cracking in a right-footed effort that seemed destine for the net, but the ball was somehow tipped onto the bar.
There was a carbon save once again from the Ferrybank netminder six minutes later when he once again turned Hearne’s strike onto the bar before the same player struck the same crossbar for a third time on 22 minutes with a right-footed effort that the keeper wasn’t saving.
The famous saying that goals win matches was to the fore in the second-half of the contest as Ferrybank took over the contest with the lead goal arriving on 30 minutes with captain Ben Daly starting the goal thread when he drilled a ball past Darragh Hegarty after good work from Darragh Morrissey.
Ferrybank doubled their lead five minutes later when goalscorer Daly got free down the left before laying the ball into the path of Darragh Morrissey, and he found the back of the net with a cracking strike that gave the Park Rangers keeper no chance at all.
Morrissey got a lucky third for his side when his right-wing corner-kick struck the post before deflecting off a Ferrybank player before finding the net. This goal really rocked Park Rangers with a fourth goal arriving on 43 minutes through Eoin Murphy as the double was secured with a super second-half display.
After the game, Ferrybank skipper Ben Daly received the Frank O’Byrne Under 11E Cup from Frank’s brother Jack with Davy Cullen, Mary Ray and Pat Kelly also on hand to conduct the presentation as the Village Ground youngsters were celebrating a brilliant year on the playing field.
Zak Daly, Darragh Morrissey, Charlie Phelan, Sam Doherty, Alex O’Byrne, Fionn Haberlin, Craig Anthony, Eoin Murphy, Mathaus Martins, Alex Winstead, Aaron McDonald, Cian Tobin, Ben Daly.
Darragh Hegarty, Louie Mason Hogan, Eibhear Cluney, Billy Moran, Niall Walsh, Fintan Bloomer, Ollie Marks, James Hearne, Will Carey, Thomas Falconer, Sam Reil, Kyle Touhy, Evan Reade, Hakeem Elhassadi.
Owen Tubbritt assisted by Luke Brennan and Damien Kelly.
