Ringmahon Rangers denied FAI Cup glory in extra-time by Glebe North
A clash between first-time finalists in this competition, Ringmahon enjoyed a sensational start to this showpiece affair as Evan Galvin headed home from close-range with just 50 seconds gone on the clock.
Glebe North 3
Ringmahon Rangers 2
THERE was heartbreak for Ringmahon Rangers at Weavers Park in Drogheda on Sunday as the Cork city side fell to a one-goal defeat after extra-time in a gripping FAI Intermediate Cup decider with Glebe North.
A clash between first-time finalists, Ringmahon had enjoyed a sensational start to this showpiece affair as Evan Galvin headed home from close-range with just 50 seconds gone on the clock – after midfielder Jamie O’Sullivan had hooked the ball invitingly into the opposition penalty area.
This sent the Leeside faithful into a state of delirium and while there was a still long way to go in the action, they were already dreaming of glory for their side.
Although Ringmahon netminder Eric Grimes turned away a goal-bound effort from Glebe winger Reece Weldon as the first-quarter developed, the Munster Senior League outfit were agonisingly close to doubling their lead as Issa Kargbo clipped the outside of the post on the stroke of 20 minutes.
Despite having Drogheda native and former League of Ireland stalwart Killian Brennan within their line-up – manager Darius Kierans is also a native of the town – Glebe were struggling to impose themselves in the Louth venue and Ringmahon ultimately held onto their 1-0 cushion at the interval.
Yet, having led for almost the entirety of the first half, Rangers were immediately reined in upon the resumption.
After being caught out from the word go at the beginning of the proceedings, Glebe restored parity when Oisin Coleman fired beyond the reach of Grimes from a Ciaran McCann pull-back just 53 seconds after the restart.
The pressure had been ramped up on Ringmahon as a result of this equaliser and Aidan Foley’s charges went on to suffer an additional blow when Glebe attacker Ryan O’Shea superbly drilled a left-footed drive into the bottom corner of the Ringmahon net.
This now left Rangers in a position where they had to chase the game and Foley elected to introduce Aaron Ahern and Adam O’Callaghan on 75 minutes in an attempt to wrestle their way back into contention.
This eventually paid dividends for Ringmahon as – in the second of six added minutes at the end of normal time – Ahern hammered home from just a few yards out after his fellow replacement Cameron Harlson had headed on an Adam Delurey free-kick.
Moving into extra-time, Kiernan once again showcased his agility to prevent Alan Greaney edging Ringmahon back into the ascendancy.
Grimes also denied O’Shea at the opposite end, but after the latter was subsequently fouled inside the area, Weldon powerfully fired the resulting spot-kick to the net on 105 minutes.
A Leinster Senior League side, Glebe were once again on the brink of getting their hands on a maiden FAI Intermediate title.
A direct approach from Ringmahon (who lost O’Sullivan to a red card late on) kept the north Dubliners on the back-foot as the final whistle beckoned, but after McAlavey had a penalty shout turned down in the fourth-minute of stoppage-time at the very end of the action, their gallant and resolute challenge just fell short.
Eric Grimes; Philip Keane (Roy Long 105+2), Christopher McCarthy, Anthony Whitehead, Adam Delurey; Roy Kenny (Aaron Ahern 75);, Jamie O’Sullivan; Issa Kargbo (Adam O’Callaghan 75), Anthony McAlavey, Evan Galvin (Cameron Harlson 83); Jack Cairns (Alan Greaney 97).
Aaron Kiernan; Ciaran McCann, Ciaran Cluskey-Kelly, Killian Brennan (Ryan Connor 72), Roy Kierans; Gavin Smith, Noel Barrett; Ryan O’Shea, Oisin Coleman (Olayinka Hamzat 85), Reece Weldon; Ahu Obhakhan (Goran Simic 111).
Vincent Coonan.