Stradbally land league title in Ozier monsoon
The Stradbally AFC Squad celebrate their win over Brideview United in the Division 2A League playoff at Ozier Park on Thursday night. Photo: Paul Elliott.
The race for the Azzurri Division 2A League title came to a nailbiting conclusion in monsoon conditions at Ozier Park on Thursday evening as Stradbally got the better of Brideview in the playoff final played in lashing rain from start to finish.
After both teams finished on level points at the summit of the table following the normal season, 13 proved to be an unlucky number for Brideview captain Ben Ahern as he put through his own net in that minute for the goal that ultimately gave Stradbally the win at the call of time.
With Dunmore netting an injury-time goal that denied the Western outfit the league on the final day of the season, Cathal Deery’s side did get the piece of luck in the final decider when the Tallow skipper sliced the ball past his own keeper in the first-half.
It was Brideview that created the first chance to go in front on five minutes when Ritchie Ryan sent over a delivery from the left that fell at the feet of Michael Curley, but his goalbound effort was superbly cleared off the line by Stradbally defender Damien Sheehan.
There was another good opportunity for the Tallow club five minutes later as they took up the early running when Chris Murphy cut in from the right-side before bringing the ball onto his left-foot only to see his stinging effort clear the crossbar of keeper Christopher Casey.
The golden goal in the contest was a really fortunate one with 13 minutes on the clock when Martin Coffey sprayed the ball out to the left for Conor Keating, who put in a teasing delivery that saw Ben Ahern slice the ball past his own keeper Jamie Ryan was trying to clear.
David Power cracked in a low shot that was saved well on the wet surface by keeper Jamie Ryan on 20 minutes before Brideview’s Graham Guiry got his head on the end of a Ben Ahern free-kick from the halfway line just past the half-hour mark, but his effort failed to trouble keeper Casey.
Casey came to his sides rescue as the rain pelted down on 40 minutes when Michael Curley swung in a shot from the left that looked to beat the netminder at his near post, but the keeper kept it out as the play swung to the other end for a good Stradbally chance only for John Prudhomme to head over the crossbar.
The first chance of the second-half fell to Stradbally when Martin Coffey was fouled 25-yards from goal by Kieran Crawford, but the cracking effort from Kevin Lawlor whistled just inches wide of the right-hand post of keeper Jamie Ryan.
After Lawlor had another effort saved on 77 minutes, there was a big chance for Brideview to level three minutes later when Crawford split the defence to send Eoin McGrath into the clear on the left-side, but his left-footed strike just cleared Christopher Casey’s crossbar.
Kevin Lawlor had a massive chance to put the game to bed in second-half injury-time when he raced clear with only keeper Ryan to beat, but his right-footed shot went wide of the target as his side held out for victory with Brian Fitzgerald picking up the league trophy from Ger Murphy after the game.
Christopher Casey, Nicholas Connors, Damien Sheehan, Barry Whelan, John Prudhomme, Paddy Kiely, David Power, Martin Coffey (Brian Fitzgerald 89), Conor Keating (Nicholas Power 90), Kevin Lawlor, Nathan Power (Cian Weldon 87).
Jamie Ryan, Michael Tobin, Mark Stewart, Jordan Henley, Graham Guiry, Ben Ahern, Chris Murphy, Kieran Crawford, Ritchie Ryan, Michael Curley (Stefan Tobin 73), Eoin McGrath.
Eamonn Russell assisted by Gavin Keyes and Noel Purcell.
