Piltown win the battle of near neighbours in finale
Pictured at the presentation of the Jimmy Walsh Portlaw tournament final is Kasey Murray presenting the cup to Piltown captain Dean Kiely. Also included are Marion O’Neill, Liam Walsh, Eily Walsh and Freddie Gilman.
Piltown came out on top to win the local derby meeting with near neighbours Carrick United to win the 52nd playing of the Jimmy Walsh Portlaw Tournament final played on a beautiful Sunday evening last at he Paddocks.
The battle of the Division 1A league sides failed to disappoint as both sides gave it their all throughout the course of the ninety minutes where the second-half goals from Conor Whittle and Ivan Moldovan proved the difference at the call of time.
It was the Kildalton outfit that created the first chance of the game on ten minutes when Eoin Smith sent over a right-wing cross that picked out the run of Conor Whittle, but his header was saved by Carrick keeper Danny Prout.
Danny Murphy had a chance at the other end for Carrick eight minutes later, but he hooked a left-footed shot wide of the target before Rory Finnegan turned provider for Brandon O’Sullivan only for him to fire over the bar from 14 yards.
Dean Kiely got his head of the end of a fine Dylan Wall corner-kick on 37 minutes, but his header just cleared the Carrick crossbar before Eoin Hogan had a chance to put his side in front three minutes later at the end only to fire wide from a good position.
The breakthrough goal arrived a minute before the sound of the half-time whistle when Eoin Smith skipped past two tackles that saw referee Gavin Keyes play a super advantage that saw the attacker set up Dylan Wall, and he drilled a low right-footed from the right past Carrick keeper Danny Prout.
It took a fine save from Piltown’s Shane Foley to deny Carrick the leveller on 56 minutes when Rory Finnegan set up Danny Murphy down the right, but his effort was turned around the posts, but from the resulting corner, the Coolnamuck outfit were level.
A delivery from the right was cleared to the top of the penalty area for Eoin Hogan and he gave keeper Foley no chance whatsoever with a cracking strike for an excellent finish, but Piltown regained the lead on 61 minutes when Conor Whittle finished past Danny Prout from close-range to regain the lead for his side.
A third Piltown goal put the game to bed for his side on 72 minutes when Sean Power did superbly well down the right to set up Ivan Moldovan, and he applied the right-footed shot to the far corner to ensure final success for his side.
After the game, Johnny Corcoran spoke proudly of the tournament with Liam Walsh presenting the man of the match award to Piltown captain Dean Kiely, who also picked up the cup from Kasey Murray and Freddie Gilman in presence of Liam, Eily Walsh and Marion O’Neill. Well done to all concerned.
Danny Prout, Killian Power, Darragh Reade, Senan Campbell, Martin Griffin, Adam Wells, Eoin Hogan, Dean Fitzgerald, Danny Murphy, Brandon O’Sullivan, Rory Finnegan, Shane Dowley, Ben O’Connell, Eddie Power, David Whelan, Roland Fitzpatrick, Justin Murphy, Maxim Ubezenko, Darryl Whitty.
Gavin Keyes assisted by Richie Brazil and Adrian Scanlon.
