Tonra Cup Final 2010
No sudden death for Villa
Final
Moy Villa 1
Melia 24
Killala 1
Clarke 82
(AET, Moy Villa won 8-7 on penalties)
Daniel Carey
Milebush Park
AFTER 110 minutes, it took 16 penalties to separate Moy Villa and Killala before the Attymass side prevailed at Milebush Park, Castlebar last Sunday.
Actually, that’s not strictly true. The eventual winners took the lead after 24 minutes, and looked to be heading for victory before conceding the equaliser seven minutes from time. After 15 successful penalties, Villa’s Eugene Carlin saved Marc McDonnell’s kick, and was quickly swamped by ecstatic team-mates.
Both sides had one decent chance apiece before the opening goal. Keith Melia’s inswinging corner forced Killala goalkeeper Seán McHale to claw the ball out. McHale’s opposite number Eugene Carlin raced from goal and got to the ball ahead of Killala’s David Lowther, but John Clarke, following up, had a chance to score, but shot wide.
Villa took the lead following a great cross from Momme Reibisch from the right, which Keith Melia headed home. Killala almost got an instant equaliser, but Carlin brought off a stunning save from Johnny McNulty’s volley, and John Judge cleared the ball off the line from the resulting corner.
There were further goal chances before half time. Stephen Moyles’s curling shot went out for a Villa corner, while John Durkan forced a decent save from McHale. At the other end, McNulty’s sweet pass found Alan Murphy, whose ball from the right found Lowther. The midfielder shot wide from close range, but was flagged offside in any event. McNulty was taken down just outside the box in the run-up to half time, but it was still 1-0 at the interval.
A second goal would have given Villa daylight, but Durkan was thwarted in his efforts to get it after latching onto a throw, as McHale tipped the ball out for a corner. On the hour mark, Lowther headed just wide from a corner by Rory Gallagher, whose number 10 shirt was sported at least five other Killala people at Milebush Park.
Seven minutes before the end, Eugene Carlin was penalised after assistant referee Aidan Nevin ruled that he had taken the ball outside the penalty area with his hand. John Clarke’s free kick took a deflection and ended up in the net. Suddenly, we were facing the prospect of extra time in a divisional final for the third week in a row.
But sides had one-on-ones during the additional period. Durkan’s through ball found Kevin Langdon, who was denied by a superb McHale stop. At the other end, McNulty slipped the ball over Carlin but it drifted agonisingly wide.
And so, penalties were required, preceded by a mass movement of spectators towards the town end once it became clear where the shoot-out would take place. Villa quintet John Moyles, John Durkan, Keith Moran, John Judge and man of the match John Casey all converted their spot-kicks, as did Killala’s initial five takers – Rory Gallagher, Johnny McNulty, Alan Murphy, John Clarke and Kevin Murray.
That meant sudden death, and there was still no separating them after Villa pair Tommy Humber and Kevin Langdon, and Killala subs Brendan Ryan and Ian McNulty, all made no mistake. Momme Reibisch put Villa back in front, although Seán McHale got a hand to his penalty, and it went off the crossbar. Marc McDonnell had to score to keep Killala in the tie, but Eugene Carlin made a fine stop, and all heaven broke loose for the eight-year-old club by the river.
Moy Villa: E. Carlin, J. Judge. N. Lackey, T. Humber, J. Moyles, J. Durkan, K. Langdon, M. Reibisch, S. Moyles, J. Casey, K. Melia.
Sub used: K. Moran.
Killala: S. McHale, M. Webb, D. Cadden, K. Whyte, O. Clarke, J. Clarke, D. Lowther, M. McDonnell, J. McNulty, R. Gallagher, A. Murphy.
Subs used: I. McNulty, K. Murray, B. Ryan.
Ref: M. McCay (Ballina).
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