Knopp the penalty shootout hero for Rams
The Ballinroad U-11F squad celebrate their Sonny Nolan Cup win over Villa at Graun Park on Saturday. Photos: Paul Elliott.
The Sonny Nolan U-11F cup final was won by Ballinroad after they beat Villa after a dramatic penalty shootout. Damian Knopp was the hero for ‘The Rams’ as he saved the last penalty to give his side victory in what was an evenly contested cup final. Your heart would go out to Villa defender Beau Fitzpatrick as it was his penalty kick that Knoop saved to leave the young Villa lad in a flood of tears.
Ballinroad took the lead with only six minutes on the clock. Rian Flavin played a clever pass out wide to Evan Radley who took the ball up to Villa goalkeeper Ben Gallagher before slipping the ball into the far corner of the net.
Ballinroad were on top in the early stages and they pressed for a second goal. On 13 minutes Rian Flavin found space in the box but his right foot effort was well saved by Villa keeper Ben Gallagher. Two minutes later Gerard Butler took on the Villa defence, his shot was goalbound Villa defender Beau Fitzpatrick got back to clear off the line. After making a couple of changes Villa began to get a grip on the game.
On 18 following a Villa corner kick the ball broke loose on the edge of the box, onto it came Beau Fitzpatrick but his well struck shot flew just wide of the far post. On the stroke of half-time Villa winger Hugh Joyce took off on a thrilling run that took him past three Ballinroad defenders but his shot was superbly blocked by Ballinroad defender Jamie Kiely.
Villa started the second-half on the attack forcing Damian Knopp into two smart saves from Rui Da Silva and Alex O’Sullivan.
With 34 minutes played Villa equalised. Joao Rodriguez skipped past two Ballinroad defenders before finding Hugh Joyce on the edge of the box and he sent a powerful left foot shot high into the roof of the net.
A minute later Oscar Mitchell broke past the Ballinroad defence but from a good position he fired over the top. Then Joyce raced clear once more but he also failed to hit the target. With no further goals the game went to extra time, the best chance fell to Oisin Hughes of Villa. He cut inside onto his right foot but his controlled stroke flew wide of the far post. So the game went to a penalty shootout with Ballinroad going first.
With Evan Radley finding the net, then Aaron Power scored for Villa. Rian Flavin missed for Ballinroad, and Oisin Hughes scored for Villa. John Doyle found the net for Ballinroad but Villa keeper Ben Gallagher saw his pen saved by Knopp. Then Gerard Butler scored for Ballinroad and Oscar Mitchell found the net for Villa. Luke Lacey put Ballinroad back in front but Oisin Reade levelled for Villa. Cormac Power put Ballinroad in front but Beau Fitzpatrick saw his penalty saved by Damian Knopp and the cup went to Ballinroad.
Damian Knopp, Gerard Butler, Rian Flavin, Jamie Kiely, Luke Lacey, Joe O’Connor, Evan Radley, Tom Walsh, John Doyle, Iarlaith McCraith, Fionn Morris, Adam Murphy, Cormac Power.
Ben Gallagher, Scott Buchanan, Hugh Joyce, Beau Fitzpatrick, Jack Cunningham, Rui Da Silva, Peter Holden, Max O’Doherty, Alex O’Sullivan, Oisin Hughes, Oisin Reade, Aaron Power, Oscar Mitchell, Joao Rodriguez, Szymon Swiderski.
Noel Lavery. Assisted by Thomas Barry and Michael Wall.
