Denny Division 2B League Final Replay ; Strand Road 2-2 Windmill United , Strand Road win on Pens 3-1

Denny Division 2B League Final Replay
Friday 13th May 2016
Strand Road 2-2 Windmill United ,
Strand Road win 3-1 on penalties AET .

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

In one of the best League finals played at Mounthawk Park Strand Road Fc were crowned Denny Division 2B League Champions after the defeated Windmill United in a penalty shootout after a dramatic night of football.

In glorious sunshine the game started and within three minutes the deadlock was broken when Luke Reidy’s in swinging cross picked out Kieran Hurley who creped in behind the Strand Road defence. Kieran’s First touch was perfect and his second gave Killian Moran no chance . Two minutes later and Windmill could have doubled their lead when Paudie Bailey rose highest to meet a Luke Reidy corner but his header flashed passed the far post .

As the first half moved on Strand Road began to find their feet and their first chance fell to Jamie Sheehan Leen after good work from Richie Hurley but Anto O’Callaghan pulled of a great save to keep Windmill ahead. Another good Strand Road passing move involving Richie Hurley , Shane Greensmyth and Jamie Sheehan Leen saw Ritchie Hurley fired a shot from a tight angle across the face of the goal and wide of the far post.

On the half hour mark Windmill again had another great chance to double their lead when from a long throw by Jason Quirke , Brian Hehir flicked the ball into the path of Kieran Hurley but his shot from yards out was stopped by the feet of Killian Moran. Moments later again Moran was to deny Kieran Hurley after the striker made a solo run from inside his own half but failed to beat the keeper who stayed tall to make a great save. From here Strand Road broke quickly down the field where Richie Hurley won the ball against three players before squaring it into the path of Anthony O’Connor who slotted the ball home under the legs of the advancing keeper to level the game at one all which if the way it stayed up to the half time break.

Windmill had the opening chances of the second half with Kieran Hurley going close with a long range free kick before the same player saw his looping header saved by Killian Moran. Ten minutes into the half Paudie Bailey taught he had given Strand road the lead only for his shot to be cleared of the line by defender Shane McElligott with the keeper beaten. Just after the hour mark the game was turned on its head with a goal and a sending off.

Dan Kinsella picked out the run of Richie Hurley with a ball over the top of the Windmill Defence where he was taken down by Paudie Bailey and after consultation from his assistant match referee Anthony Morrison awarded a penalty and produced a red card for Paudie Bailey . Dan Kinsella took on the responsibility of taking the spot kick which Anto O’Callaghan go the correct way and save the penalty but Kinsella reacted quickest to fire the rebound home.

Rithie Hurley was now becoming a torn in Windmills side and was again denied by Anto O’Callaghan as Strand Road went in search of a third goal. With ten minutes remaining Windmill United came within inches of getting the equalizer after a Kieran Hurley shot was flicked under the body of Killian Moran by Brian Hehir but somehow the keeper reacted to gather the ball on the goal line.

As the game enter the final minute Strand Road could taste victory until a shot by Luke Reidy was saved by Killian Moran but the spin on the ball meant the keeper was unable to hold onto the shot and the ball rolled into the path of Kieran Hurley who made no mistake from close range to send the game to extra time.

Neither Side could manage to find a winner in extra time where Windmill United were reduced to nine men after Kieran Hurley received his second yellow card and the league title was to be decoded by a penalty shoot out.

Gary Savage went first for Windmill United where he scored and this was made all leave when Paul O’Sullivan scored for Strand Road. Kevin O’Shea then saw his spot kick saved by Killian Moran and Richie Hurley gave Strand road the lead in the shoot out. Eoin Greaney then saw His Spot kick saved by Killian Moran and when Anthony O’Connor scored it meant that Windmill would have to score their next spot kick. Brian Hehir stepped up and saw his well struck shot cannon back of the crossbar and queue the wild celebrations from the Strand Road players , management and supporters who secured their first league title in the clubs second year in existence .

Windmill United ; Anto O’Callaghan , Paul O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Shea, Eoin Sayers, Sean Kerins, Paudie Bailey, Gary Savage, Luke Reidy, Brian Hehir, Kieran Hurley, Jason Quirke . Subs , Eoin Greaney for Paul O’Sullivan (72 mins) .

Strand Road Fc ; Killian Moran , John Griffin, Paul O’Sullivan, Alan Quirke, Dan Kinsella, Shane Greensmyth, Shane McElligott, Dylan Hennebery, Jamie Sheehan Leen, Richie Hurley, Anthony O’Connor. Subs , Milos Arvic for Jamie Sheehan Leen ( 81 mins) .

Officials ;
Referee , Anthony Morrison
Assistants , Thomas Sheehy & Eddie O’Mahony .