Finley fires home a super double in final victory
The Villa team and management celebrate their U-17A cup final success in Ozier Park. Photos: Noel Browne.
Finley Hughes was the hero for Villa as he scored a second-half brace as the Connors Park side came from behind to overcome the challenge of Piltown in the Centenary playing of the Ball Corporation Under 17A Cup final at Ozier Park on Wednesday evening.
When it looked as if the game was certain to go to extra-time after both teams gave their all in a keenly contested affair, Hughes scored the winner three minutes from time from a left-wing free-kick that sailed over the head of Piltown keeper John Cooney.
The contest was four minutes old when the victors had a chance to go in front when match-winner Finley Hughes found space out on the right that saw the ball fall at the feet of John Dillon, but his effort was cleared off the line by defender Conor Quinn.
Piltown struck the front five minutes later when Zach Tobin swung over a right-wing delivery that found Joseph Long in front of goal, and the skipper had no problem in blasting the ball past Villa keeper Sean Keane from close-range.
Keane came to his side’s rescue with an outstanding save on 16 minutes when Dylan O’Donoghue played the ball through for Callum Smith on the right-side of the penalty area, but his cracking effort was superbly tipped over the bar.
JP Browne led the hope of Villa getting back on level terms before the half-time break with the attacker getting on the end of an Anderson Dube ball into the danger area on the half-hour mark, but his header was turned around the post.
The same player was in the thick of the action on 37 minutes when he took possession of the ball 25-yards from goal, but his shot flew inches wide of the target. Browne had another stinging shot a minute before the break around the post.
Callum Smith had the first chance of the second-half on 53 minutes when he took a pass from Jack Carroll down the right-side, but he shot into the sidenetting before the leveller arrived for Villa just eight minutes later.
Daragh O’Connor sent over a right-wing cross that saw Steven Cooke, who was a 52nd minute substitute, flick the ball to the back post for Finley Hughes, and he beat keeper John Cooney with a fine right-footed shot to the far corner.
With Conor Quinn striking the outside of the post with a Piltown chance on 67 minutes, there was a big save from keeper Cooney on 85 minutes when he kept out an effort from Cooke, but there was one final twist two minutes later.
Villa won a free-kick out on the left. Finley Hughes stepped over the ball around 25-yards from goal, and his right-footed shot on goal sailed over the head of the netminder to the back of the net for a goal that shocked the Piltown players as the comeback was complete.
After the game, Waterford Junior League chairman Damien Tiernan presented the Under 17A Cup to a delighted Villa captain Sean Keane with attacker JP Browne named the player of the match on a dramatic evening at headquarters.
Sean Keane, Daniel Doyle (Steven Cooke 52), Bobby Hutchinson (Conor McEnery 81), Max Walsh, Enis Ibrahimi, Anderson Dube, Finley Hughes, Daragh O’Connor, Evanagelos Poulakis, JP Browne, John Dillon.
John Cooney, Dylan O’Donoghue (Alex Tobin 81), Blake Cummins, Conor Diffily (Siyabonga Sibanda 90), Conor Quinn, Joseph Long, Jack Carroll, Bobby Norris, Zack Tobin (Dylan Walsh 54), Callum Smith, Joshua Simpson (Leon Grace 81).
Adrian Scanlon assisted by Noel Purcell and Tony Lacey.
