Tommy Healy Memorial Cup Final Replay; AC Athletic 2-0 Strand Road Fc

Tommy Healy Memorial Cup Final Replay
Sunday 14th August 2016
AC Athletic 2-0 Strand Road Fc

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

AC Athletic claimed the treble on Sunday when they added the Tommy Healy Memorial Cup to the Dominos Pizza Reserve Cup and the Denny Division 1A League title that they have already won in the 2015/16 season. On Sunday they used their experience against a very young Strand Road side who themselves have had a great season winning the Denny Division 2B League title.
AC Athletic had the opening chance of the game but John Mike Dooley’s shot from a tight angle was easily saved by Killian Moran. AC Athletic should really have been ahead on the 20 minute mark when a cross from John Mike Dooley from Jason Diggins unmarked six yards out from goal but his volley somehow missed the target. Minutes later Eamonn Fitzgerald fired over from close range as AC Athletic put more pressure on Strand Road who were finding it very hard to keep possession in the opening half of the final. AC Athletics pressure finally paid off in the 36th minute when they took the lead when Joseph Diggins squared to the on rushing Jason Diggins who made no mistake firing past the advancing Killian Moran in the Strand Road goal .

The second half saw Strand Road get more into the game and began to keep possession a lot better than they did in he first 45 minutes and within a minute of the restart Dan Kinsella was just wide after great work from Ritchie Hurley. Ritchie Hurley then tried his luck with a long range effort but this was easily saved by Cyril Dineen. AC were now sitting back soaking up the pressure and looking to hit Strand Road on the break and they nearly doubled their lead with twenty minutes remaining but Jeremy McKenna fired over from close range after being set up by John Mike Dooley. With only fifteen minutes remaining AC Athletic got their second goal which was to seal victory when Eamonn Fitzgerald scored from the penalty spot after the match referee had judged John Griffin had handled the ball in the penalty area.

Strand Road to their credit didn’t give up and had two more chances before the final whistle with Jamie Sheehan Leen being denied by Cyril Dineen and then Anthony O’Connor hitting the side netting in the final minute.

KDL Secretary John O’Regan thank both clubs for a great game and also congratulated them both on very successful seasons before presenting the Cup to AC Athletic Captain Sean Leahy .

AC Athletic; Cyril Dineen, Jeremy McKenna, John Mike Dooley, Eamonn Fitzgerald, Mark Walshe, Conor Diggins, David Egan, Stephen Goggin, Jason Diggins, Joseph Diggins, Sean Leahy. Subs; John Buckley for Conor Diggins 70 mins.

Strand Road Fc; Killian Moran, Alan Quirke, Dan Kinsella, John Griffin, Dylan Hennebery, Shane Greensmyth, Richie Hurley, Johno O’Reilly, Declan Corcoran, Shane McElligott, Paul O’Sullivan. Subs, Jamie Sheehan Leen for Johno O’Reilly 55 mins, Milos Arvic for Declan Corcoran 57 mins, Anthony O’Connor for Shane McElligott 77 mins .

Officials;
Referee, Anthony Morrison .
Assistants, Guy Djamen and Tom O’Sullivan .