Umbro Galway Cup - The Finals
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
It was a tense final day at the Umbro Galway Cup on Saturday as both finals in the Elite section of the competition were decided by penalty kicks. Glasgow Celtic faced the FAI Development Squad at 2.40pm in the 1996 Elite group, after Lucan had faced off versus Kildare earlier in the afternoon in the 1998 Elite section.
Lucan began the first of these showpiece finals in imperious fashion, with Dillon Fox playing a neat one-two with strike-partner Conor Masterson before firing wide of David Craddock's goal. Minutes later however, Craddock was required to intervene to keep Fox out, and his side level. The lively forward turned in space 30-yards out before powering a dipping effort at goal which Craddock did magnificently to touch onto the crossbar, before picking himself up quickly to dive at the feet of Masterson. This double-save was undoubtedly the highlight of a somewhat scrappy first-half.
There were other 'almost' moments in the opening exchanges for Lucan, as Ryan O'Connor saw his three shots in quick succession all just fail to find the target. Kildare's best chance in the first 25 came when Ryan Nealon was narrowly prevented from finishing a dangerous cross by a timely intervention from Aram Vartanyan.
The second-half was similarly disjointed, with both teams projecting an air of understandable nervousness. The only real chance of the half came to Lucan, and it should have been the telling moment of the game. O'Connor broke free down the right, ghosting past a couple of Kildare players before cutting the ball back to the middle of the box where Ciaran Kelly fired well over from the in front of the penalty spot. And so it was to be penalties that would decide the destination of the cup.
Klidare 'keeper Craddock unvelied a Grobbelaar-esque hip swivel before the first Lucan penalty, and duly produced a stunning one-handed save away to his right. Kildare's advantage was short-lived however as they saw their first kick saved also. It was beginning to look like the shoot-out would go on well into the evening as Lucan saw their second penalty saved once again by Craddock. But Kildare did manage to open take the lead by hitting the net with their next effort. And that proved enough to take the cup, as the next three penalties taken all failed to find the target, meaning that it was Kildare who triumphed in the '98 Elite Cup final.
The second Elite final was another cagey game, with chances coming at an extreme premium. Dominic Mahon headed wide for the FAI early on in what turned out to be a very rare chance for the Irish side. The impressive Shane Dineen spurned a decent chance for Celtic when he failed to connect properly with a free header from a Liam Henderson free-kick. Dineen and central-defensive partner Mark Barrowman were turning in another uncompromising performance at the heart of the Scots' defence, and Patrick Madden was struggling to have any impact as the lone-striker for the Development Squad.
In the second-half Celtic's star-man Paul McMullen began to assert his influence on the game after an uninvolved opening period. The number 10 almost opened the scoring when he managed to get on the end of an overhit through-ball before the FAI 'keeper, but he could only poke the ball wide of the near post. Minutes later McMullen was at it again, cutting in from the right past two defenders at pace before directing his effort straight down the throat of Harry Doherty. Less than sixty seconds later Celtic's most dangerous player drifted centrally and flashed yet another effort wide of the FAI goal. The referee's whistle ended an uneventful final and confirmed a second penalty shoot-out to decide the tournament's most illustrious final.
This round of penalties was significantly more fruitful than the one that preceeded it, though there were a couple of misses along the way before McMullen was presented with the opportunity to secure the trophy for Celtic, which he duly did by dispatching a superb penalty into the top corner. The celebrations were long and loud from the Glasgow team as they deservedly secured the Umbro Galway Cup. Celtic were undoubtedly the team who performed to the highest level throughout the tournament's four days, and were consistent throughout.
An opening day defeat to Valerenga was the only blot on the copybook, though they were arguably the better team in that encounter. It was a hugely successful week in Drom, from the facilities to the organisation, from the quality of football to the excitement of the knock-out stages. And in Glagow Celtic, the 2011 Umbro Galway Cup found worthy winners.
Lucan began the first of these showpiece finals in imperious fashion, with Dillon Fox playing a neat one-two with strike-partner Conor Masterson before firing wide of David Craddock's goal. Minutes later however, Craddock was required to intervene to keep Fox out, and his side level. The lively forward turned in space 30-yards out before powering a dipping effort at goal which Craddock did magnificently to touch onto the crossbar, before picking himself up quickly to dive at the feet of Masterson. This double-save was undoubtedly the highlight of a somewhat scrappy first-half.
There were other 'almost' moments in the opening exchanges for Lucan, as Ryan O'Connor saw his three shots in quick succession all just fail to find the target. Kildare's best chance in the first 25 came when Ryan Nealon was narrowly prevented from finishing a dangerous cross by a timely intervention from Aram Vartanyan.
The second-half was similarly disjointed, with both teams projecting an air of understandable nervousness. The only real chance of the half came to Lucan, and it should have been the telling moment of the game. O'Connor broke free down the right, ghosting past a couple of Kildare players before cutting the ball back to the middle of the box where Ciaran Kelly fired well over from the in front of the penalty spot. And so it was to be penalties that would decide the destination of the cup.
Klidare 'keeper Craddock unvelied a Grobbelaar-esque hip swivel before the first Lucan penalty, and duly produced a stunning one-handed save away to his right. Kildare's advantage was short-lived however as they saw their first kick saved also. It was beginning to look like the shoot-out would go on well into the evening as Lucan saw their second penalty saved once again by Craddock. But Kildare did manage to open take the lead by hitting the net with their next effort. And that proved enough to take the cup, as the next three penalties taken all failed to find the target, meaning that it was Kildare who triumphed in the '98 Elite Cup final.
The second Elite final was another cagey game, with chances coming at an extreme premium. Dominic Mahon headed wide for the FAI early on in what turned out to be a very rare chance for the Irish side. The impressive Shane Dineen spurned a decent chance for Celtic when he failed to connect properly with a free header from a Liam Henderson free-kick. Dineen and central-defensive partner Mark Barrowman were turning in another uncompromising performance at the heart of the Scots' defence, and Patrick Madden was struggling to have any impact as the lone-striker for the Development Squad.
In the second-half Celtic's star-man Paul McMullen began to assert his influence on the game after an uninvolved opening period. The number 10 almost opened the scoring when he managed to get on the end of an overhit through-ball before the FAI 'keeper, but he could only poke the ball wide of the near post. Minutes later McMullen was at it again, cutting in from the right past two defenders at pace before directing his effort straight down the throat of Harry Doherty. Less than sixty seconds later Celtic's most dangerous player drifted centrally and flashed yet another effort wide of the FAI goal. The referee's whistle ended an uneventful final and confirmed a second penalty shoot-out to decide the tournament's most illustrious final.
This round of penalties was significantly more fruitful than the one that preceeded it, though there were a couple of misses along the way before McMullen was presented with the opportunity to secure the trophy for Celtic, which he duly did by dispatching a superb penalty into the top corner. The celebrations were long and loud from the Glasgow team as they deservedly secured the Umbro Galway Cup. Celtic were undoubtedly the team who performed to the highest level throughout the tournament's four days, and were consistent throughout.
An opening day defeat to Valerenga was the only blot on the copybook, though they were arguably the better team in that encounter. It was a hugely successful week in Drom, from the facilities to the organisation, from the quality of football to the excitement of the knock-out stages. And in Glagow Celtic, the 2011 Umbro Galway Cup found worthy winners.
About Dean Hayes
Dean covers Waterford United and, due to a challenge from Gareth, writes in an increasingly Gonzo style. Having found himself with a considerable surplus of a culinary herb, Dean founded sister 'site extrathyme.ie some years … View Full Profile