2003 MCSHARRY&FOLEY CUP : ABBEY UNITED 2 STRAND CELTIC 1
McSharry Park
Abbey United completed the ‘double’ as they won this season’s McSharry & Foley Cup last Friday, beating holders Strand Celtic 2-1. This final was a very open game played in true ‘Cup’ tradition, and Strand acquitted themselves well against the recently-crowned Sligo Southern Hotel Super League champions.
Abbey started well and created a number of early chances. The pick of these came in the eighth minute. Paul Lynch played a long ball into the Strand area where Cal Callaghan knocked it down to Keith Nibbs, whose close-range half-volley was well-saved by Strand Celtic goalkeeper Graham Lee.
Strand got back into the game and dominated the middle stage of the first-half. They looked dangerous from dead-ball situations and went close from one in the 24th minute. Barry Carty’s free from the right was floated into the Abbey six-yards box where Mark Rooney directed the ball goalwards with a glancing header – but the ball hit defender Paul Lynch and went behind for a corner.
Three minutes later Strand, last season’s McSharry & Foley Cup winners, took the lead. Barry Carty drilled a right-wing free low across the face of Abbey’s goal where Rory O’Connor stuck out his foot to divert the ball past net-minder Martin Ward.
They went close again moments later as Carty’s corner from the left was met by a back-post header from Mark Rooney which forced a one-handed stop from Martin Ward. Abbey went close to equalising on the half-hour mark.
Darren Kelly flicked the ball into Callaghan, whose cross found Garrett Kelly. But Kelly was denied by Graham Lee’s brilliant point-blank save.
Strand made a bright start to the second-half with both Dean Deering and Liam Cashel going close. But the tone of the game changed when Abbey equalised in the 54th minute. Darren Kelly played the ball into Keith Feeney on the left side of the area. The former Sligo-Leitrim U-18 player cut inside his marker and curled the ball into the top corner.
That goal prompted Abbey to move up a gear and they took the lead 10 minutes later. Garrett Kelly got to the end of Sasha Curran’s cross from the left to head home past Graham Lee.
After that it became a personal battle between the Abbey forwards and the Strand goalkeeper. Tice Keith Nibbs went close only to be thwarted in his efforts by Lee, who also made a good stop from substitute John Conlon. Nibbs did eventually beat Lee but his header – from a cross by Conlon – came back off the crossbar.
At the other end Strand couldn’t find a way to get back into the game and Abbey won the McSharry & Foley Cup for the second time in three seasons.
Player of the Match Graham Lee
Abbey United Martin Ward, Paul Lynch, Trevor Scanlon, Clive Somers, Sasha Curran, Gary Rooney, Garrett Kelly, Keith Feeney (Paddy Conlon, 83), Keith Nibbs, Cal Callaghan (John Conlon, 86), Darren Kelly
Subs not used Johnny Carlin, Keith Langan, Michael Feeney
Strand Celtic Graham Lee, Marcel Gordon, Anthony Boyle, Mark Rooney, Philip McMahon, Liam Cashel, Mark Cunningham (Brian Hampson, 78), Barry Carty, Rory O’Connor, Dean Deering, Ronnie O’Grady (Terence McMahon, 60)
Subs not used Glen Monaghan, Dara McLynn