Happy New Year for Douglas Hall as they win Youths Cup final. Blast from the past. January 2004

Blast from the past. January 2004.

Happy New Year for Douglas Hall, who power back to beat Tramore Ath. in Youths Cup final.

Champions

2nd Jan 2004

YOUTHS LEAGUE CUP FINAL

Douglas Hall 3 Tramore Athletic 1

Douglas Hall turned on the style in the second half to come from behind and defeat Tramore Athletic 3-1 in an exciting game in the final of the Errea Sports Youths League Cup at Turner's Cross on a wet Friday night.

Tramore couldn't hold Douglas in second half.

The surface was quite slick and didn’t help and quite often passes to the front runners gathered pace and favoured the sweepers and keepers. To be fair, the ball was rarely in the air. Each side tried its best to play intelligent football even if it didn't always come off and the respective clubs must be happy that such talented players are coming through to play with the adult teams.

Tramore, well led by skipper and centre-forward Sean O’Connor, had the edge in the first half and made it count in the 12^th minute. Then the busy bustling Peter Moreland, another key figure in this period, took full advantage of hesitancy in the middle of the Hall defence to blast his shot past keeper Adrian O’Donovan.

Douglas skipper Neil Burke receives the Errea Sports Youths League Cup
from AUL secretary Martin Conlon.

Minutes earlier, Moreland had linked well with O'Connor but his return cross was just missed by the head of the big captain. Later, O’Connor did very well on the left wing, got ahead of his marker and fired in a terrific cross but the ball was headed behind for a corner.

The Hall, despite the best efforts of Seamus Long and Shane Kennedy, were hardly seen as an attacking force in the first half but did have a half chance just before the break. Kennedy won a great ball in his own half and passed to skipper Neil Burke in midfield. But Burke’s ball, intended for Steve Barry, picked up pace on the wet surface and was easily dealt with by keeper Dave Dorney.

Douglas full back Kevin O'Sullivan kicks clear.

Douglas were a different team after the break though their comeback was spurred by a soft enough equaliser in the 55^th minute. Amazingly, Troy Kelly was unmarked at the far post as Kennedy’s free from the left came in. Kelly himself was somewhat surprised and took a while to get control before rolling the ball past the keeper. It struck the far post and Long was on hand to finish the job.

Richard Arnopp was beginning to emerge as a candidate for man of the match with his electrifying runs on the left and it was he who would put the Hall ahead on the hour. His scintillating run left his marker on the deck and he cut into the box. The defence was reeling and Arnopp's low drive looked good for the far corner until it took a wicked deflection off a defender and ended in up going by the near post.

Outstanding Hall defender Seamus Long (5) clears his lines.

Steve Barry was to emerge was a key figure as the Hall continued their drive forward. In the 78^th minute, he played a one two with captain Burke and only a fantastic penalty box tackle by Roy Keating prevented another goal.

But the Hall hit that clincher three minutes later and again Barry was involved. He hit a terrific cross from the right corner flag. Burke's header was well blocked on the line by Dorney but the grounded keeper could do nothing as the Hall number nine cracked in the loose ball to make it 3-1.

Tramore's Paul Kerrigan in possession against Richard Arnopp.

Tramore showed great fight both before and after that goal. Perhaps their best effort was late on when Mark Maher shot just wide after a good input by Moreland. They also had chances from goalmouth scrambles but keeper O’Donovan was on full alert for the winners who held on to take a deserved triumph.

Douglas Hall: Adrian O’Donovan, Kevin O'Sullivan, Graham Coughlan, Derek O'Sullivan, Seamus Long, Mark O'Callaghan, Troy Kelly, Shane Kennedy, Neil Bourke (captain), Stephen Barry and Richard Arnopp. Subs used: Dave Burke for Coughlan (86^th) and Dave O'Connor for Kelly (88^th).

Tramore Athletic: Dave Dorney, Roy Coughlan, Colin McSweeney, Paul Kerrigan, Robert O'Sullivan, Roy Keating, Peter Moreland, Mark Maher, Sean O’Connor (captain), Ken Murphy and Thomas Horgan. Subs: Paul Murphy for Coughlan (injured 63^rd minute) and Darren Moore for McSweeney (82^nd).

Referee: John Lyne.

Douglas Hall midfielder Shane Kennedy surrounded by Tramore players

Managers’ comments

Douglas manager Eoin O'Sullivan was glad to get his side in at the break: “The first half, we were poor. We didn't get enough of the ball in to our forwards; we didn't get a sniff at a goal. We got them in at half-time, had a good long chat with them, sorted a few things out.”

“We came out and gave an outstanding display. I’d have to agree that the half-time talk was the turning point. You saw that display. Fantastic. There’s not many teams that could have stayed with them.”

“I thought Richard Arnopp gave an outstanding display. Seamus Long at centre back was also outstanding as was keeper Adrian O'Donovan, all fantastic. And in the last twenty minutes, Steve Barry upfront held the ball up very well, great running off the ball, and he was one of our major men tonight. Fantastic.”

Tramore manager Colm Sheehan was disappointed but was quick to congratulate the Hall: “We were a bit unfortunate, unlucky, had a couple of chances but possibly, overall, the better team won. But the team played quite well and our best were perhaps Robert O'Sullivan, Ken Murphy and Roy Keating.”