Greyhound Bar KO Cup Final Replay; Listowel Celtic 1-0 Castleisland Afc

Greyhound Bar KO Cup Final Replay
Friday 10th July 2015
Castleisland Afc 0-1 Listowel Celtic Afc

By Tommy Naughton
(Pictures Copyright to KDL & T.Naughton and cannot be used anywhere else without permission)

Listowel Celtic were crowned Greyhound Bar Cup Champions for the first time in twenty years on Friday night when they defeated the reigning champions Castleisland Afc. In truth Listowel Celtic were the better team on the night by playing five in midfield which limited Castleisland to very few chance sin the ninety minutes.

The game in a frantic fashion and was only a minute old when a Paudie Quinn free kick from the right wing was flicked wide by Kevin McCarthy . A minute later Mike Woods cut in from the left wing but saw his effort easily saved by Kevin Moran. Castleisland’s first effort came from a long free into the danger area by Sean Brosnan which Mike Hannafin steeped over leaving it to Aidan O Callaghan whose snap shot was wide of the target. Paudie Quinn was put in behind the Listowel defence by Bryan Murphy in the tenth minute only to see his effort roll passed the wrong side of the far post.
The pace of the opening twenty minutes was brilliant with the new all weather pitch helping to keep the game flowing. Castleisland felt they had claims for a penalty in the eighteenth minute when Dean Poolman went down in the box after received the ball from Shane Loughlin but referee Seamus O’Mahony who was in a great possession waved away the appeals. A minute later saw the best move of the match from Listowel Celtic. Bryan Murphy picked up the ball just inside the Castleisland half before rolling the ball forward to Paudie Quinn , Quinn’s first time past into the corner found Ian Murphy who crossed from the end line to the on rushing Bryan Murphy who just headed over the bar. It look as if their was to be a break through it would only come for one side as Listowel were a step ahead of Castleisland and in the twenty fifth minute the deadlock was broken. Kevin McCarthy took a throw in the left corner of the pitch to Ian Murphy , Ian turned back and gave the ball to Kevin Bambury who cut in from the wing before firing a low drive into the near corner from well outside the penalty area .
Listowel didn’t sit on their lead and nearly grabbed a second minutes later when Micheal Lynch found himself free inside the box but headed wide a Paudie Quinn free kick. Castleisland’s best chance of the half came in the 43rd minute when a long ball by Pierce Brosnan was cleared by Seamus Keane only as far as Sean Brosnan who quickly turn in behind the defence but flash his shot just wide of the far post.

The second half never lived up to the tempo of the first half as both teams tired from the efforts in the opening forty five minutes. Listowel Came out in the second half with a plan to sit back and soak up the pressure which is a tough task especially against a side like Castleisland. Listowel Celtic again were having the better of the chances and within six minutes of the restart Ian Murphy put Kevin Bambury through on goal , Bambury could have taken the shot but choose to square the ball into the path of Ian Murphy six yards out from goal but the pass was just over hit and was cleared away. Castleisland were struggling to create any clear chances and any high ball that was sent into the Listowel box was dealt with by Seamus Keane and Micheal Lynch who were outstanding through out the night.
Time was running out as neither side tested either keeper in the second half, with Bryan Murphy again shooting over with nine minutes remaining after Ian Murphy set him up on the edge of the box. Castleisland’s final chance came in the 92nd minute when a corner from Sean Brosnan made its way to the far corner of the penalty area where Stan Divane half volleyed the ball across the face of the goal just missing the far post before going wide. The final whistle went moments later to the delight of the Listowel Celtic team, management and supports. One sour not for Listowel was the sending off for Eddie Joe Walsh after the final whistle by the match referee who again had another excellent game in charge.

League Secretary John O’Regan thank both teams for the outstanding performances in both games before presented the Greyhound Bar Cup to Listowel Celtic captain Seamus Keane.

Listowel Celtic ; Cathal Keane, Martin Loughnane, Micheal Lynch, Seamus Keane, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Woods, Aidan Murphy, Bryan Murphy, Paudie Quinn, Kevin Bambury, Ian Murphy. Subs; Eddie Joe Walsh for Martin Loughane (53 mins), Eoin O’Mahony for Mike Woods (65 mins), Ricky Hanley for Kevin Bambury (73 mins).

Castleisland AFC ; Kevin Moran, Pierce Brosnan, Paul Carmody, Padraig Reidy, Aidan O’Callaghan, Shane Loughlin, Timmy Walsh, Patrick Hickey, Dean Poolman, Sean Brosnan, Mike Hannafin. Subs; Stan Divane for Dean Poolman (45 mins), Tommy Feehan for Pierce Brosnan (45 mins), Ray Huggard for Shane Loughlin (52 mins).

Match Officials ;
Referee , Seamus O’Mahony
Assistants , Adrian Quirke & Anthony Morrison .