Treble Heaven for Moneygall in upsetting Killavilla in Tipperary Cup Final

SOCCER: Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup Final

Moneygall 2

Killavilla United 2

(after extra time, Moneygall won 4-1 on pens)

Report: Gary Culbert in Drombane

Photos: Odhran Ducie

HAVING endured their fair share of heartache from the penalty spot this season, Moneygall banished their penalty demons by making quick work of Killavilla United in their fifth shootout of the season, with goalkeeper Julian Bentancourt further cementing his place in Moneygall folklore with two incredible saves from Villa’s first three penalties.

The strong wind and sporadic downpours of rain would have a big part to play in this fiery encounter. With the wind on their backs, Villa started at a blistering pace and had Moneygall penned into their own half for the opening stages, during which Darren Coleman showed is class to ensure the underdogs didn’t get a sniff.

Bentancourt made his first great save of the game during this time, denying Michael Fitzgerald from point blank range following a corner kick. However, there was nothing the Columbian could do deny Tom Ahern on the 23rd minute. The goal came from a blistering Michael Fitzgerlad counter attack, the young winger carrying the ball fifty yards after Villa cleared a corner, before crossing for Ruairi Murphy. Bentancourt came and parried, but only as far as Ahern, who showed great composure to take a touch and place the ball in the bottom corner of the net.

Villa’s tails were up now and they pressed high from the restart in hopes of a quick-fire second. Moneygall survived this period and had their first chance of the game on the half hour mark, Jack O’Brien seeing his effort cleared off the line by Eddie Simmons.

One of the only vulnerable areas in Villa’s game is the space left when the outer of the three centre halves get forward, leaving gaps in the inside channels. Billy Hayes was a constant feature at Villa’s last few games and had identified an early ball over the top as an area to exploit, so there was no surprise on the stroke of half-time when Jack O’Brien beat the offside trap before beautifully lobbing the keeper after a quick ball over the top. Niall Maher provided the forty yard assist, which saw Moneygall go in level against the run of play.

Villa wasted no time restoring their lead, Tom Ahern netting his second of the day just five minutes after the restart. The intense midfielder is a big game player, so it is no surprise that he has been in great form during the last few weeks. On this occasion he was the quickest to the rebound when Bentancourt parried a Ruairi Murphy free-kick back into the danger zone.

Paul Costello was introduced by Moneygall and he made an immediate impact, receiving the ball to feet and keeping play progressing. In fact, it was a long ball from Costello which saw parity restored on the hour mark. Once again it was a searching long ball played into the channel, but instead of supplying the ammunition, this time Niall Maher was the man dinking the ball over Aaron Mulready. The big striker’s effort didn’t seem to have the legs to make it, and sure enough Roddy Teehan got back in time to clear. However, instead of clearing first time he inexplicably took a touch to control the ball on his own line, and as it flew up off the outside of his boot the assistant referee deemed the ball had crossed the line.

The Villa press dropped as the match wore on and the situation was not helped when their two most intense players, Tom Aherne and Michael Ryan, had to leave the field due to injury and ill-discipline.

Costello grew further into the game and had a huge chance to kill the tie, but his rasping low effort was somehow saved by young Aaron Mulready. Kevin Fitzgerald beat the acrobatic keeper on the 80th minute, but the crossbar came to Villa’s rescue and so extra time would be required.

Both sides went extremely close during extra time, as both Mulready and Bentancourt were called on to produce massive saves, the Columbian with the pick of them, pushing the ball around the post to deny Dylan Carey the winner.

The dreaded penalty shoot-out would be required, and everyone in attendance felt that it was only right; these two sides were inseparable. Before Cameron Flemming took the first penalty, there were some mind games as the man standing 12 yards away reminded him of his penalty miss in Shinrone. However, this didn’t have any effect and Moneygall were on their way.

Having faced a massive four penalty shootouts this season, Julian Bentancourt had already proved himself with massive saves on the way to three victories, but the cat-like Columbian saved the best for last to ensure Moneygall lifted the Tipperary Cup for the first time in their history.

First he dived right to deny Roddy Teehan, and then he sprung left to paw Ben Lynch’s powerful effort around the post. Ruairi Murphy did get one passed the player of the match, but Kevin Fitzgerald and Paul Costello dispatched their penalties so it all came down Dylan Maher, and the captain did not disappoint, slotting it home to cap off an historic treble for Billy Hayes’ young guns.

With three trophies up for grabs in the run-in, Villa have come away with one. As we reflect on their time in the premier division over the past eight years, it is fair to say that they were the standard-bearers of the NT&DL in recent years in terms of facilities, style of play and overall ability on the pitch; Killavilla United ensured that everyone else rose up to their level. They will go down as one of the greatest teams in NT&DL history, we wish them all the best on their journey in the CCFL next season and in years to come.

Player of the Match: Julian Bentancourt (Moneygall)

Moneygall: Julian Bentancourt; Mikey Ryan, Cian McLoughlin, Dylan Hogan, Dylan Maher; Gearoid Larkin, Kevin Fitzgerald, James Carroll; Jack O’Brien Niall Maher, Sean Moroney.

Subs: Paul Costello for Moroney (50); Cameron Fleming for Carroll (62); Dylan McCormack for O’Brien (95)

Killavilla United: Aaron Mulready; Eddie Simmons, Roddy Teehan, Ian Treacy; Michael Fitzgerald, Craig Byrne, Darren Coleman, Tom Ahern, Michael Ryan ©; Ruairi Murphy, Josh Wynne.

Subs: Dylan Carey for Coleman (26); Ben Lynch for Fitzgerald (62); Miko Pasalic for Ahern (76); Dylan Carey for Ryan (77); Jason Fitzpatrick for Simmons (106)

Referee: Jim McGrath.