Sallypark’s experience edges out Portumna

SOCCER: North Tipperary & District League - Division 1 Barry Cup Final

Sallypark Odhrans 2

Portumna Town 1 (after extra time)

Report: Gary Culbert in Ardcroney

Sallypark Odhrans were far from their best on Sunday afternoon in the Division 1 Barry Cup final, but a strong defence and good use of their bench ensured yet another trophy for the cup experts, as Portumna fell to a 2-1 defeat, after extra time, amidst blistering heat in Ardcroney.

The league champions knew that if they kept Adam Fogarty quiet, they would have a fair chance of lifting the cup. So, with that in mind Paul Walsh came straight back into the heart of the defence after three games out and was given orders to stop the powerful Portumna forward from getting in behind.

Walsh showed his class on numerous occasions in the first half to take the pressure off his young goalkeeper David Kinane, but it was another experienced player from the other side of Nenagh that stood out in the first half. Central midfielder Bryan McGee used controlled aggression and all of his experience to drag this somewhat lacklustre Sallypark side up to speed in this final.

McGee opened the scoring on the stroke of half time with a volley of the highest calibre. The goal came from nothing; a long ball on top of Portumna’s youngest player, but with the sun in his eyes he made the crucial error of letting it bounce. McGee had sniffed out the fear in the full back and latched onto the youngsters headed clearance, unleashing a ridiculously accurate volley from thirty yards which nestled in off the post, just out of reach of the Portumna keeper.

Sallypark were well on top in the second half, but as the half wore on Eoin Ryan, Paul Walsh and Lee Mitchell were all needed at times to block shots from Jakub Wysoki, Oisin O’Sullivan and Adam Fogarty.

Portumna looked particularly dangerous down the right as Kieran Ryan struggled to contain the electric pace of Jakub Wysoki, who often chose to cut inside allowing room for David O’Meara to overlap and swing in dangerous crosses.

Indeed, it was O’Meara who drew Portumna level in the 37th minute, to the delight of the substantial support they brought. The right back rose highest in the box, getting up early and strong to flick a Jakub Wysoki cross from the left into the top corner.

The tide turned after the goal and Portumna piled on the pressure in search of a winner. Sallypark keeper Kinane made a fine save in the 88th minute to deny captain Ronan O’Meara a late winner, but minutes later Kinane could only watch as Wysoki teed up Adam Fogarty, who uncharacteristically curled over a great chance to win the game in normal time.

Sallypark caught Portumna napping at the start of extra time and scored through an unlikely source, Daniel Keogh. The goal was an improvised flick finish from the edge of the box, assisted by a low Alan Flynn cross from the right. With all the flair players on the pitch you would not have expected the Keogh to come up with a goal, but the industrious central midfielder has had a knack of scoring important goals throughout his career.

This was a sucker punch for Portumna, they had been well on top towards the end of normal time, but the truth is they did not lay a glove on The Park after that. In the end, it was Sallypark’s pedigree in these Cup final situations that got them over the line.

The painful truth for Portumna however was that they did not match Sallypark’s aggression and guile. It was especially disappointing not to see Adam Fogarty moved out onto the wing to have a go at running at the full backs, as it was clear to see that the two centre backs had his number and he spent a lot of time with his back to goal, when really, he is most dangerous with space to run into.

However, when the dust has settled on Portumna’s season it will be looked at as a giant leap forward; coaches Dave Flaherty and Dave Madden have completely changed the club for the better in their first season in charge. The style of football they play is very progressive and enjoyable to watch, on their day this Portumna side can blow teams away and will be a real title contender next season.

Player of the Match: Lee Mitchell (Sallypark Odhrans)

Sallypark Odhrans: David Kinane; Lee Mitchell, Eoin Ryan, Paul Walsh, Kieran Ryan; Dale Donnelly, Christopher Ryan, Brian McGee, Danny O’Donoghue; Jack Sanders, Craig Connolly.

Subs: Alan Flynn for O’Donoghue (52); Dan Keogh for Sanders (58); Brian Duffy for Donnelly (70); Tom McCutcheon for Connolly (17 ET)

Portumna Town: John O’Meara; David O’Meara, Ciaran Hough, Matthew Roche, Tyler Hannigan; Oisin O’Sullivan, Michael Dolan, Ronan O’Meara; Alan O’Meara, Adam Fogarty, Jakub Wysoki.

Subs: Ernest Kasprzak for Haugh (45); Oisin Fogarty for A O’Meara (75); Donal Sheil for D O’Meara (12 ET)

Referee: David Butler.