25-Sep-2006

So close in McGuill Cup Final

Cork City 1 Kildare County 0

The young Thoroughbreds bowed out of the Enda McGuill cup at the last hurdle and in the cruellest of fashions when they had to play the full second half with ten men after Ian Brazil had been dismissed just before the break.

County started well and after five minutes they created a chance when a Rory Browne free from the left was powerfully headed downwards by David Scully but City keeper Mark Power saved brilliantly at his left post.

Cork�s first chance came after 15 minutes when Admir Softic found some space just outside the box and tried to lob keeper John Flynn but his effort was well wide.

One minute later Ken Mahon got on the end of a Dave Scully cross but once again Power was equal to the task. Cork then had a spell of dominance as County started to give possession away very cheaply and in one such situation on 22 minutes Shane Scanlon found himself in space just outside the box and the striker had time to pick his spot, shooting low to the bottom corner, giving John Flynn no chance.

County had a great chance to level in the 39th. minute when a ball over the top by centre back Dave O�Connell fell nicely for Ian Brazil ten yards out but somehow keeper Mark Power toe poked the ball out for a corner.

At the other end a firmly struck header by Cork�s Karl Caulfield was well saved by the superb Flynn.

In the final minute of the half City won a free on the right wing and as players jostled for position in the box referee Alan Kelly incredibly showed a straight red card to Brazil, while the other party got away with a yellow.

Incredibly County played their best football in the second period despite being a man down. Manager Thomas Donnelly rearranged his side leaving Paddy Mahon to battle on his own up front. County know that they now had to keep possession and they did this in style, carving a way through the Cork defence on a number of occasions but a very strong Cork back four, in which full back Ray Lally and centre back Derek Cahill were superb, dealt with County�s best efforts.

Eoin Kavanagh replaced Dave Scully in the Kildare midfield on the hour and thirteen minutes later defender Mark Nolan was sacrificed for midfielder Mark Gibson. Two top drawer saves from County keeper John Flynn from Softic and Cathal Lordan kept County�s faint hopes alive as they bravely battled to claw back the goal. Daniel Scully came on for Rory Browne who had covered blade of grass at Turner�s Cross, in the final minutes and there was still time for Kildare to conjure up one final chance when substitute Eoin Kavanagh made his way down the left and swung over a cross for Dave O�Connell, whose glancing header went across the face of the goal and was hacked away to safety.

This was a fabulous performance by a very young side against much more experienced opposition and one feels that had County had their full compliment of players for the ninety minutes the end result may have been different.

Manager Thomas Donnelly said afterwards �I could not have asked any more from this squad, their dedication, application and preparation was second to none. You just had to look at the disappointment on their faces at the end. They gave one hundred percent and that�s all any manager can ask�.

Donnelly would not be drawn on the sending off of Ian Brazil only to say that �he had spoken to the player and those in the vicinity and Ian was the victim rather than the perpetrator of the incident which resulted in his sending off�

Donnelly paid tribute to the large contingent of supporters who made the long trip to Turners Cross and assured them that there is much more to come from this side.

County: John Flynn, Colin Osbourne, Mark Nolan, Ken Mahoney, Dave O�Connell, Matt Rigney (Captain), Ian Brazil, Rory Browne, Patrick Mahon, Dave Scully, Paul Rigney, Subs: Daniel Scully (for Rory Browne 90), Eoin Kavanagh (for Dave Scully 60), Ian Rennicks (for Paddy mahon 83), Mark Gibson (for Mark Nolan 73), Carl Donnelly.

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