ABBEY UTD…………………….1 CALRY BOHS………………….0

ABBEY United retained the McSharry & Foley Cup for the second successive year with a hard-earned victory over Calry Bohemians at Sligo/ Leitrim headquarters on Saturday night last.

A 17th minute goal from central defender, Brendan McGuirk, was enough to complete another domestic league and cup double for the Sean Fallon Park outfit, something they had also achieved in 2003.

The newly crowned Super League champions were, however, made to battle all the way by a pacy and determined Calry, swiftly re-building the reputation which saw them enjoy substantial success in the not too distant past. Runners-up in the Premier League last term- following relegation from the top flight- Calry finished in fourth place this season and they were clearly anxious to present a formidable challenge to the beaten Connacht Cup semi-finalists.

Bohs enjoyed their faire share of possession throughout an entertaining contest, but clear-cut opportunities remained at a premium for them. Yet, when Calry ‘keeper, Stephen Heraughty, capped an excellent individual display by saving Gareth Kelly’s 64th minute penalty, Bohs were in with a shout and finished strongly in search of an equaliser.

Decisive

It didn’t come, despite two late corners deep in added time, and thus it was Abbey who claimed the trophy for the third time in four years. United did have the chances to win more comfortably, but in the end McGuirk’s close range strike proved decisive.

In a game full of incident, it was Abbey who began brightly and they forced two early corners before a young Calry side settled to play at a high tempo and with plenty of energy.

Heraughty was tested for the first time on eleven minutes when he held a free-kick from twenty yards from Paddy Conlon, after Conor Kelly had fouled Darren Kelly and picked up a booking as a result.

A minute later, Gareth Kelly turned to shoot over the crossbar and Heraughty was in the thick of the action again in the 14th minute, leaving his line to smother at the feet of Keith Nibbs, who chased a Clive Sommers knock-on from a Gareth Kelly delivery.

Calry had to reshuffle the pack when Conor Kelly was forced off with a 16th minute injury, which saw him replaced by Brendan Rooney, who operated at left-back as Paul Kelly moved to the centre of the back four.

Lead goal

Abbey took the lead a minute later when Calry failed to clear a corner. Paddy Conlon knocked the ball across goal and when Keith Nibbs pushed it out to Sasha Curran he slipped it across the box for Brendan McGuirk to pounce from close range.

Keith Nibbs and Darren Kelly were booked in the space of four minutes as the action intensified and Abbey went close to adding a second in the 30th minute. Sommers again knocked on a high ball and mid-fielder Anthony Fallon back heeled it for Gareth Kelly to see his shot blocked away for a corner by the outstretched body of ‘keeper Heraughty.

Eamonn Kelly went into the book on 34 minutes, before Calry created their best opening of the first half four minutes later. It came when fullback Ciaran Coyne found Colin O’Hara with a good pass through the middle of the Abbey defence and when O’Hara passed to Aidan Flynn, he was thwarted when Martin Ward bravely cleared at his feet, picking up an injury which needed lengthy treatment as a result.

Abbey attacked on the re-start, Darren Kelly’s effort on the drop at the back post as he connected with a cross from Gareth Kelly. The Abbey striker then had a shot held by Heraughty as the United tried to build on their advantage.

It took a timely intervention from Anthony Fallon, however, to deny Paul Kelly on 52 minutes when Kelly was left free at the back post as he collected a touch on by Shane Boyd, but Fallon reacted swiftly to kick the ball away for a corner. Five minutes later, Paddy Conlon was desperately unlucky to see his superb left foot strike from 30 yards come back off the angle of post and crossbar .

Dangerous

Abbey continued to look dangerous going forward and on the hour Gareth Kelly probably should have done better than shoot straight at Heraughty when put into a good position by Sommers.

The Super League winners had a great opportunity to make Calry’s task even more difficult in the 64th minute when referee Paul Deering pointed to the spot after Heraughty fouled Anthony Fallon after he flicked the ball over the ‘keeper’s head following a pass from Darren Kelly. Heraughty dived to his right to push away Gareth Kelly’s penalty and the game was still very much in the balance as a consequence.

Gareth Kelly then failed to convert another chance on 66 minutes, shooting wide and twelve minutes later, Kelly had another shot saved by Heraughty. Paddy Conlon ran from deep to drive narrowly wide in the 79th minute, while at the other end, Aidan Flynn’s extra touch allowed McGuirk to get back and block his effort in front of goal. Heraughty produced another top-drawer stop to prevent Gareth Kelly making it two-nil six minutes from time.

A feisty Calry went with three at the back in the closing stages and pushed all out for an equaliser, but when Clive Sommers got a crucial header on a corner in the 93rd minute, Abbey survived the late rally and lifted the cup.

Abbey United: Martin Ward, Paul Lynch, Sasha Curran, Brendan McGuirk, Trevor Scanlon, Paddy Conlon, Anthony Fallon, Keith Nibbs, Darren Kelly, Clive Sommers, Gareth Kelly. Subs-D. Curran for Nibbs (83 mins), McMorrow for D. Kelly (86 mins).

Calry Bohs: Heraughty, Coyle, C. Kelly, E. Kelly, P. Kelly, O’Hara, Boyd, Reynolds, Campbell, Flynn, McMoreland. Subs- O’Reilly for Flynn (80 mins), Phillips for Campbell (83 mins).

Referee: Paul Deering.

Match Report By Michael Moran for The Sligo Champion (https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/sport/soccer/mcguirks-early-goal-secures-cup-glory-for-abbey/27535231.html) Wed 19 May 2004