Murphy’s treble leads Carrick to double success
The victorious Carrick United team celebrated their cup win with their young fans and management after the game, they also had the Div.3 league trophy on display so it was double celebrations for them. Photos: Noel Browne.
Danny Murphy scored a brilliant second-half hat-trick as Carrick United came from behind to land a league and cup double success by securing a 3-1 win over Red Star in the Philip O’Keeffe Division 3 showpiece decider at Ozier Park on a scorching Saturday afternoon.
Darren Gray had the first chance for Red Star on seven minutes when he got space down the left-side, but his low shot was saved at the near post before Tim Treacy sent over a left corner on 14 minutes that found the head of Jamie Holloway only for keeper Tom Deegan to save.
Anthony Power swung over a right-wing corner nine minutes later that found the head of the unchallenged Robbie Power at the back post, but his header cleared the crossbar before Holloway did have the ball in the net on the half hour mark only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Two big chances, one for either, side came in the space of a minute. The first fell to Carrick on 38 minutes when Power split the Red Star defence to send Danny Murphy clear on goal, but his right-footed effort was well saved by keeper Deegan.
When the ball made its way down the other end of the field, captain Conor Malone found himself in space on the right-side of the area, but he blazed over the crossbar from 14 yards when he should have hit the target.
It was a stunning breakthrough goal that put Red Star in front on 43 minutes when Philip Behan picked up possession of the ball 25-yards from goal, and he placed an unstoppable right-footed effort out of the reach of Carrick keeper Danny Prout.
The sides were back on level terms three minutes into the second-half when striker Danny Murphy raced onto a ball from midfield on the left-side of the area, and this time he held his composure to fire left-footed to the far corner past keeper Tom Deegan.
Murphy had a big chance to put his side back in front on 56 minutes when he got on the end of a left-wing cross, but keeper Deegan stood tall to make a close-range save before Carrick should have got their noses in front on 71 minutes.
A breakaway attack saw Danny Murphy find space for himself out on the left-side, and after his cracking effort was saved by keeper Tom Deegan, the rebound fell nicely for Kieran Flanagan only for his shot to be cleared off the line.
It was Murphy that showed his class to put the Coolnamuck outfit in front nine minutes later when he raced onto a through ball out on the right-side and he drilled an unstoppable effort to put the ball beyond keeper Tom Deegan to the far left-hand corner before he completed his hat-trick two minutes from time.
After the game, Mary O’Keeffe on behalf of the O’Keeffe family presented the cup to a delighted Carrick captain Robbie Power with David O’Keeffe presenting the player of the match trophy to the hat-trick hero Danny Murphy.
Danny Prout, Tim Treacy, Danilo Oliveira, Jamie Holloway, Robbie Power, Jack O’Sullivan, Peter Flanagan (Kieran Flanagan 69), Anthony Power, Danny Murphy, Paul Byrne Kelly (Brian O’Loughlin 73), Joao Otim Oliveira (Jack Dunne-Hanrahan 90).
Tom Deegan, Gary Butler (Shane Coady 69), Barry Egan (Alan O’Brien 83), Daniel Kirwan, Felipe de Oliveira, Tommy Power, Shea Burke, Philip Behan, Darren Gray, Conor Malone, Jeff Power (Liam Kelly 69).
Paul Butler assisted by Adrian Scanlon and John Walsh.
