Sallypark Odhrans junior men's football team - 2020 NENAGH GUARDIAN SPORTS AWARDS WINNER

Sallypark Odhrans won the Tipperary Cup for the second time in this history with a remarkable run by the first division club in the 2019/2020 competition.

The Latteragh club belied their second-tier division status to knock out no fewer than four premier division sides on route to winning the Kevin Fogarty Cup. Thurles Town, Killavilla United and Nenagh Celtic were all disposed of to set-up a final against Borroway Rovers in Holycross.

In true Roy of the Rovers fashion, they won the Cup in style, coming from behind. Eleven minutes from time, they fell behind but with five minutes to go they levelled from an Eoin Ryan header and they scored the winner in injury time with substitute Paddy Ronan proving to be the hero with the sliding finish for a 2-1 win.

“Timing was a lot of it,” explained manager Eugene Foley on their successful run.

“You get lucky, and players came back from injury at the right time. The top tier teams obviously underestimate you as well and definitely got our fair share of luck in the games when we were strong.”

For captain Eoin Ryan, he is just hoping to get a chance to defend the title sooner rather than later when Covid restrictions ease.

“You’d miss the astro-turf to get out and see the lads,” he said.

“There are a few of us pushing on in age but given the break for much of the last year you’d like to get out and play again. That’s what clubs like Sallypark are about, getting lads down that are eager and want to play football and hopefully there are lads busting to get going again and push us on again.”