Denny Premier A League Final Replay 2013/14

Kerry District League
Sunday 29th June , 2014
Listowel Celtic FC 0-1 Castleisland AFC

By Tommy Naughton

Castleisland were crowned Premier A League champions for the first time since 1978 on Sunday when they defeated Listowel Celtic by a single goal. Listowel will feel very disappointed after finishing top of the division and unbeaten in their twenty league matches but when it comes down to a one match final you are guaranteed nothing. This was in fact the first time that the team who finished top of the Premier A division failed to win the league title.

The game itself never really sparked into life like the first game with a lot of stoppages on a very hot Sunday afternoon taking its toll on both sides. Unlike the first game Listowel came out of the blocks very fast this time and left the nerves from the first game well behind them.

Both teams settled into the game very quickly but no real chances were being created in the opening minutes of the game. Sean Brosnan wiped in a dangerous free kick from the right wing which Martin Loughnane powerfully headed away. Paudie Quinn then had two attempts with free kicks with the first hitting the wall before the second sailed high and wide of the target after 15 minutes.

The first save of the game came a minute later when Eddie Joe Walsh got on the end of a Kevin McCarthy cross but his header was easily held by Kevin Moran in the Castleisland goal. Darragh O’Shea in the Listowel Celtic goal had to be smart in intercept a through ball by Sean Brosnan to Mike Hannafin and the game began to open up. On the twentieth minute mark Sean Brosnan went close but his curling free kick bent around wide of the near post.

Eddie Joe Walsh again went close before the half hour mark after Kevin Bambury tuned his marker and rolled the ball into the path of Walsh as he entered the penalty area he pulled the ball back onto his left but only found the side netting.Ten minutes to the break and Listowel Celtic were on top on the possession stakes and nearly made it work to their advantage when Bryan Murphy broke out of his own half with the ball, he pushed the ball wide to Eddie Joe Walsh who crossed to Kevin Bambury who pulled the ball back to the edge of the box to Bryan Murphy but his well hit shot was blocked by the body of Pierce Brosnan.

Minutes later Bryan Murphy again had a chance when a headed clearance fell to him outside the box but his shot just flew over the bar. The game however was to turn on its head with 90 seconds to the break.Timmy Walsh played a long ball out of defence and Sean Brosnan got behind the last defender and make ground in to the penalty area where Darragh O’Shea was quick to come out, Brosnan clipped the ball past the keeper who could not stop himself in colliding into the striker and referee Stuart Templeman had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and after consultation with his assistant showed the keeper a yellow card.

Sean Brosnan dusted himself down and hit the spot kick to the keepers right who guess correctly but it was to far into the corner for him to reach and Castleisland had the lead which was against the run of play. Ian Murphy had the last chance of the half but again another shot missed the target after some good build up play.

From the beginning of the second half Castleisland looked like they were happy with the single goal at sat back inviting Listowel Celtic forward and trying to catch them on the break. Martin Loughnane nearly got Bryan Murphy in early on but for Kevin Moran who was off his line quickly to gather. Eddie Joe Walsh again went close fifteen minutes into the second half from a Paudie Quinn corner but his header was just a foot over the bar.

Listowel were pouring more and more men forward in the second half but at times Castleisland defended brilliantly and with every member of their tem in their own half their was very little room for Listowel Celtic to try find a gap to create a real chance.

Paudie Quinn again tried his luck with a free kick inside the last fifteen minutes but his powerful effort was to high to trouble Kevin Moran. With only two minutes remaining Castleisland should have wrapped the game up when Sean Brosnan broke down the right wing beating two defenders before picking out Stan Divane inside the box. Stan rolled it across the goal to the unmarked Pierce Brosnan who had the simplest of tasks of putting the ball into the empty goal from six yards out but he somehow blazed his effort high over the crossbar.

Listowel’s final chance came in the 93rd minute when a long throw by Jamie Barry was headed wide of the target in a crowded box by Martin Loughnane. Moments later the final whistle went and great scenes of joy were shown by the players, the management and supporters with many a tear being shown as they claimed their first Premier A league title in 36 years.

Castleisland will now represent Kerry in the Munster league Champions Trophy next season where they will be away to Broadford United from the Desmond League.

Listowel Celtic; Darragh o Shea , Martin Loughnane, Kevin McCarthy, Micheal Lynch, Seamus Keane, Kevin Murphy, Eddie Joe Walsh, Paudie Quinn, Kevin Bambury, Bryan Murphy(CAPT), Ian Murphy . Subs; Jamie Barry for Kevin Bambury (60 mins) , Craig Sheehy for Eddie Joe Walsh ( 60 mins) , Ricky Hanley for Ian Murphy ( 75 mins) .

Castleisland AFC: Kevin Moran , Barry Lynch , Aidan o Callaghan (CAPT) , Maurice Hickey, Paul Carmody, Timmy Walsh, Pierce Brosnan, Shane o Loughlin, Mike Hannifin, Sean Brosnan, Stan Divane . Subs; Pa o Rourke for Mike Hannifin ( 67 mins), Jonathan Downey for Stan Divane ( 89 mins) .

Referee; Stuart Templeman
Assistant; Adrian o Shea
Assistant; Anthony Morrison