Super Seagulls land Youth double success
The Tramore players and coaches celebrate their Ball Corporation Youth A Cup Final win over Bohemians on Sunday in Ozier Park. Also included are Waterford Junior League Vice Chairman Paddy Byrnes and Ray Cloone from sponsors Ball Corporation. Photos: Noel Browne.
Tramore AFC claimed an unique Ball Corporation Youth A Cup final success on Sunday afternoon last in the glorious Ozier Park sunshine as the Graun Park club notched the double with a 4-2 win over Bohemians in the Centenary Year of the league.
After defeating the Ben Wadding Park outfit with ease to the win a couple of weeks ago, the seaside outfit won both halves of this final 2-0, but they came up against a Bohs side that made life difficult during the course of the 90 minutes, but there was no denying Brendan White’s side victory.
They set out their intentions as early as the sixth-minute when Calum Barry played the perfect through ball for Sean O’Donoghue on the right-side of the area, but his cracking shot was superbly tipped over the bar by Bohs skipper Aaron Breen.
The lead goal arrived for Tramore on 12 minutes when Sam Duffy-Niblock cut in from the right before firing a cross into the danger zone, and when the ball was cleared into the path of Sean Fitzgerald, he drilled a low right-footed effort to the far corner past keeper Breen.
Bohemians battled back to level the contest on 24 minutes when Bernie Patrick McDonagh sent over a left-wing cross that found Ider Boldbaatar coming in at the back post, and he brilliantly executed a right-footed finish to the far corner past Leon Murphy.
Tramore regained their lead seven minutes before the sound of the half-time whistle when Sean Fitzgerald whipped in a left-wing corner-kick to the front post where Cian Burke got the final touch that diverted the ball to the near corner of the net.
It took another brilliant save from Aaron Breen to keep his side in the game at the break when the brilliant Fitzgerald picked out the run of Jack Caulfield, but his close-range effort was superbly turned around the post.
After Bohs struck the woodwork early in the second-half, Tramore added a third goal with 51 minutes on the clock with Sean Fitzgerald again involved when he sent over a right-wing cross that was magnificently finished by striker Sam Duffy-Niblock that gave keeper Breen no chance.
Bohs kept fighting in the game with Boldbaatar and Memucan Siyamwi having chances to get a goal back before a superb advantage from referee Gary Fitzgerald saw Tramore net their fourth with Joshua Roche teeing up Sam Duffy-Niblock for a super finish on 83 minutes.
The Ben Wadding Park completed the scoring in the game as the tie entered injury-time when Paul Kiely swung over a left-wing corner that broke for substitute Noah Leane, who bundled home from close-range, but this goal was too little too late as Tramore held out to win a deserved league and cup double.
After the game, Ray Clune on behalf of sponsors Ball Corporation presented the Youth A Cup to victorious captain Jack Ahern, who received the league trophy from Waterford Junior League vice-chairman Paddy Byrne with Sean Fitzgerald picking up the player of the match award after a brilliant display.
Leon Murphy, Sean Fitzgerald, Enzo Mary (Joshua Roche 71), Cian Burke, Shay Corcoran (Joe Richards 87), Jack Ahern, Jack Caulfield (Bobby O’Brien 87), Tommy Smyth (Joe Brennan 73), Sam Duffy-Niblock (Michael O’Grady 87), Sean O’Donoghue, Calum Barry.
Aaron Breen, Harry Dunne (Paul Kiely 52), Lee O’Mahony (Czerak Hawula 69), Leo Blake, Cillian Hoctor, Harvey Swift, Memucan Siyamwi (Noah Leane 65), Ider Boldbaatar, Bernie Patrick McDonagh, Josh O’Neill-Nolan, Bradley Keohan (Lenard Birlea 71).
Gary Fitzgerald assisted by John S Walsh and Noel Purcell.
The Tramore team, management and supporters celebrate the club’s win in the Youth A decider in Ozier Park.
