Orchard’s great cup adventure ends in shootout heartbreak
CARRIGALINE UNITED…………………………3
CHERRY ORCHARD…………………………….3
(Carrigaline United win 3-1 on penalties)
Daire Walsh
CHERRY Orchard suffered penalty shootout heartbreak at the hands of Carrigaline United in the U16 SFAI National Cup decider at Home Farm FC on Sunday afternoon.
Having proved inseparable after 100 plus minutes of pulsating action, it took a series of spot-kicks to finally determine a winner and it was the Leesiders who came up trumps as netminder Jack Cullen turned away three Orchard efforts to help his side over the line.
The Ballyfermot outfit had initially looked set to prevail when they carved out a 2-1 cushion that they held into the final minutes of normal time. While it ultimately wasn’t to be for the Ballyfermot side, there was certainly no shame in defeat.
Orchard, broke the deadlock with four minutes on the clock when Conor Ryder ghosted into the box from the left-wing and his spectacular bicycle kick was far too strong for the helpless Cullen. Although this represented a dream start for Orchard, their lead was short-lived.
Off an ensuing attack, Costello was picked out in space on the left-hand side. His deflected shot deceived Orchard custodian Amos Dezu and crept into the back of the net.
There was no reason for the Orchard to panic and with Mitchell Cassin in sparkling form, it wasn’t long before they re-asserted their authority as the dynamic Number 10 edged his side back in front just past the half-hour.
Capitalising on the spade work of Onesime Tembe and Shane Brothers, Cassin fired to the bottom right-hand corner via the foot of a Carrigaline defender.
It was all going to plan for Orchard once more, until another set-back derailed them in the closing moments of the first half.
Midfielder Aaron Shortall was dismissed for a second yellow card offence and this presented Carrigaline with a potential lifeline.
But it was not long before it was back to even numbers, however, as Dawson received a straight red card for a late tackle on Orchard’s Scott Cleary in the early stages of the second period.
Ethan McLoughlin was agonisingly wide of the mark for the Orchard on 64 minutes and Brian Johnson was thwarted by Cullen moments later.
Orchard were still in pole position for a memorable victory, only for Carrigaline’s perseverance to pay off four minutes from time.
Costello created space for himself inside the opposition half and angled an unstoppable left-footed strike beyond the reach of Dezu. There was a change between the sticks prior to extra-time, with Peadar O’Keeffe taking over from his injured team-mate.
It was a baptism of fire for O’Keeffe, who could do little to prevent Costello’s coolly struck penalty straight after the resumption. Carrigaline were now in the ascendancy for the very first time.
Orchard simply refused to give in, though, and Ryan Fahey towered above a host of bodies to head home a set-piece from the right flank.
This ensured that it all came down to a battle of wits from 12 yards. Though Ryder rifled past Cullen with considerable aplomb, the flamboyant goalkeeper was equal to Cleary, Murphy and Jake O’Reilly attempts.
On the other hand, Carrigaline converted three of their four penalties to finally land the prize.
CARRIGALINE UNITED: J Cullen; C Crotty, S Dawson, R Leonard, S O’Neill; C O’Farrell (A O’Shea 99), A O’Shea (C Power 72); D Howard, J Moore, D Kelly (R McCann 59); A Costello.
CHERRY ORCHARD: A Dezu (P O’Keeffe 79); D Dunne (O Tembe 82), R Fahey, S Doyle, A Smallhorne; S Cleary (K Young Byrne 73), A Shortall; O Tembe (E McLoughlin 55), M Cassin (O Morjoram 65 (S Cleary 99)), C Ryder (K Murphy 51-91); S Brothers (B Johnson 43 (J O’Reilly 91)).