Dublin's Niall McCabe helps Louisville City to back-to-back USL titles with win over Didier Drogba's Phoenix Rising

Dubliner Niall McCabe helped Louisville City secure historic back-to-back USL championships following a narrow 1-0 win over Phoenix Rising.

Luke Spencer’s strike just past the hour was enough for Louisville to take successive USL crowns against a Phoenix side for whom Didier Drogba was playing his last game before retirement.

Spencer volleyed home from close range after Phoenix repeatedly failed to clear their lines following a scramble in the box from Oscar Jimenez’s corner.

McCabe played all 90 minutes in midfield for the Kentucky team, who beat a Bethlehem Steel side captained by former St Patrick’s Athletic midfielder James Chambers on the way to the final.

The 28-year-old Ringsend man has spent all his adult career in the States having spent four years at Young Harris College in Georgia before stints with Knoxville Force and Chattanoga.

He was sent off late on as Lousville beat Swope Park Rangers to seal their first-ever USL title at Slugger Park 12 months ago.