Denny Division 1A League Final ; AC Athletic 1-0 CSKA Tralee

Denny Division 1A League Final
Sunday 05th June 2016
AC Athletic 1-0 CSKA Tralee

Report and Pictures by Tommy Naughton. Images Copyright to KDL ,No usage without permission by any other website, Facebook or Twitter Pages.

AC Athletic were crowned Denny Division 1A league champions on Sunday when they over came the challenge of CSKA Tralee thanks to a single goal from the veteran John Mike Dooley.

AC Athletic started the better of the two sides and Eamonn Fitzgerald should have really done better at the back post unmarked from a Mark Walshe free but his header missed the target. David Egan then picked out the run of Joseph Diggins in behind the CSKA defence but Chris Foley got back quickly to block the shot on goal . CSKA slowly began to find their feet and after a lovely exchange of passes between Mike Griffin, Dara Sheehy and Chris Foley saw Cian Daly get in at a tight angle were his effort hit the side netting.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 31st minute when Sean Leahy chipped the ball over the CSKA defence and John Mike Dooley broke the offside trap and as the keeper came out he lobbed the ball over him and into the empty net . Minutes later AC could have doubled their lead after David Egan sent Joseph Diggins through with only the keeper to beat but Sean Purcell reacted brilliantly to save low to his right hand side to keep the score at 1-0 at the half time interval.

The second half continued where the first had finished with AC in control and again they could have doubled their lead when Joseph Diggins managed to get in between Eoin Doody and Sean Purcell but his flick around the keeper was cleared away by Eoin Doody covering back. CSKA then began to throw more players forward in search of an equaliser and could have pulled a goal back from a Mike Griffin header but for Jason Diggins headed away off the goal line. Darragh Carmody and Kieran O’Donovan then combined to set up Cian Daly but his effort was saved by the quickly advancing Cyril Dineen in the AC Athletic goal.

CSKA must have felt it wasn’t going to be their day with 15 minutes remaining when from an Eoin Doody corner John O’Connor rose highest but again his header was headed of the line this time by Joseph Diggins covering the back post. The remaining minutes saw no clear chances as AC Athletic control possession to see out the game to the final whistle and claim the title . CSKA will be proud of their achievements through out the season and with gaining promotion to Denny Premier B next season.

AC Athletic ; Cycril Dineen, Jason Diggins, Mark Walshe, Stephen Goggin, Sean Leahy, Conor Diggins, David Egan , Joseph Diggins, John Mike Dooley, Jeremy McKenna , Eamonn Fitzgerald. Subs , John Buckley for Sean Leahy (59 mins) .

CSKA Tralee ; Sean Purcell, Dara Sheehy, John O’Connor, Chris Foley, Eoin Doody, Kieran O’Donovan, Cian Daly, Mike Griffin, Neil Cannon, Anthony Shanahan, Darragh Carmody.

Officials;
Referee, Derek O’Shea
Assistants , Tom O’Sullivan & Anthony Morrison .