Jimmy Falvey Memorial Youth Cup Final ; Killarney Celtic 1-0 Listowel Celtic

Jimmy Falvey Memorial Youth Cup Final
Sunday 16th August 2015
Killarney Celtic  1-0  Listowel Celtic

By Tommy Naughton

Killarney Celtic claimed the Jimmy Falvey Memorial Youth Cup title after they defeated Listowel Celtic in Mounthawk Park. This crowns off a fantastic season for Killarney Celtic Youth team who had already won the Munster Junior Kerry Area Final and claimed the Denny Youth League title just a few weeks ago.

Killarney Celtic started the better and had the first chance after just four minutes when Fergal O’Donoghue crossed to Cathal O’Shea whose reverse pass found William Courtney but his shot was wide of the near post. Cathal O’Shea was next to go close when he headed over from a Fergal O’Donoghue cross after eight minutes. Two minutes later and Listowel Celtic had their first chance when Darren Murphy intercepted a ball from the back before putting Aidan Quinn in behind the Killarney defence . Quinn reached the ball before the advancing keeper but roll his shot just wide of the far post.

Killarney Celtic were having the better of the goal scoring chances and could have gone ahead after 26 minutes when on a quick counter attack Conor Randall crossed for Cathal O’Shea but he couldn’t get enough of a touch on the ball and it missed the target at the far post. Play quickly went to the other end where Chris Elbell picked out Darren Murphy with a long diagonal ball , Murphy cut inside onto his left leg but his curling effort missed the far post. Eight minutes to the break and Killarney Celtic had the best chance to take the lead when Stephen McCarthy rose highest in the box and headed a Fergal O’Donoghue corner off the crossbar with the rebound being driven over the top fro close range from a Cathal O’Shea volley. The final chance of the first half saw a long range free from William Courtney hit the bottom of the post before rolling into the grateful hands of Cathal Keane in the Listowel Celtic goal.

The second half never lived up to the standard of the first with both sides looking tires the game never had a flow to it with numerous bookings and substitutions. Killarney Celtic again had the first chance of the half when Cathal Keane denied William Courtney from close range. David Spillane in the Killarney Celtic goal had to save twice in the next twenty minutes to deny Chris Elbell and Aidan Quinn . With the game looking like it would go to a replay the deadlock was finally broken in the 85th minute. A short corner was taken between Cathal O’Shea and Fergal O’Donoghue whose cross found Colin Murphy at the far side of the box. Murphy controlled the ball brilliantly before firing a shot into the far bottom corner to give Killarney Celtic the lead.

Listowel had no option but to throw everyone forward in the final few minutes in search of an equaliser but could have been further behind only for Cathal Keane denying Cathal O’Shea and the post denying William Courtney with was the last kick of the game.

Killarney Celtic ; David Spillane, David O’Carroll, Oscar O’Connor, Michael Moynihan, Pearse Lyons, Fergal O’Donoghue, William Courtney, Conor Randall,  Stephen McCarthy, Colin Murphy, Cathal O’Shea. Subs; Thando Dube for Stephen McCarthy (60 mins), Lee O’Callaghan for Conor Randall (76 mins).

Listowel Celtic ; Cathal Keane, Ben McSweeney, Jack Wall, Donnacha Brosnan, Cathal Kennelly, Brendan Angland, Ashley Kelliher, Thomas Doherty, Aidan Quinn, Darren Murphy, Chris Elbell. Subs; Tom Melvin for Chris Elbell (72 mins), Conor O’Brien for Ben McSweeney (89 mins).

Officials;

Referee, Anthony Morrison

Assistants, Kevin Cunningham & Tom O’Sullivan.