Eager Abbey outfit complete the Cup and league double

Date Published: 02-Jun-2010

TWO opening-half goals by St. Bernard’s set them on the way to a comfortable victory in the Joe Ryan Cup final at Terryland Park on Saturday and, in the process, completed a First Division League and Cup double.

Early strikes by Eoghan Roche and Mathew Finn gave St. Bernard’s the perfect start in their bid to retain the cup and a late Jason Finn goal sealed the deal.

Despite both sides having completed their league programme some time ago, this was a competitive encounter. The Abbeyknockmoy side were by far the more threatening in the opening half and their advantage was based on the predatory instincts of the goal scoring duo, while Mervue couldn’t make a number of set pieces count in their best opportunities.

Certainly, Bernard’s were the more creative in the opening quarter and could have taken the lead on just six minutes, but Roche could not keep a Jason Finn cross on target from close range. However, the front man certainly finished in style when he made it 1-0 on 13 minutes.

Collecting a throw in on the left from Mathew Finn, he swivelled and drilled a 25 yard effort in to the far top corner as ‘keeper Roche was rendered helpless. Mervue responded to the challenge and St. Bernard’s goalkeeper Colm King brought off a smart save to keep out a Darvin Dowling shot. A terrific challenge by Daryl Finn then ended a threatening Dermot Ward run in the box before a swift counter attack at the other end produced a half chance for Kevin Ruane, but after rounding the advancing Roche he could not apply the finish from a tight angle.

However Bernard’s made it 2-0 on 23 minutes when Jason Finn delivered from the right and Mathew Finn was positioned ten yards out to drill in an effort that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Just twice more they threatened in that opening half as Mark Finn steered a Ruane pass off target, while a Ruane free kick was tipped on to the crossbar by Roche at full stretch.

Meanwhile, set pieces always looked the most likely avenue of a Mervue fight back. King reacted well to an Alan Tormey header with a reactive tip over and from another Dowling delivery, Ger McGrath headed over. A close range Ward effort tested King and just before the break a Lubos Valcek free kick deflected off the defensive wall for a corner.

The resumption saw Mervue force the early pace and a combination of King and Mathew Finn denied Lloyd Concannon on 48 minutes, but from the resulting Dowling corner Tormey applied the low finish to make it 2-1.

A brilliant full length save by King denied Ward an equaliser on 54 minutes after the front man hammered in an effort from outside the box.

The highlight of the game came on 56 minutes when Darren Roche produced three cracking reflex saves in quick succession. A Kevin Ruane cross set up Eoghan Roche, but from six yards Roche spread himself to keep out the shot and from the rebound he got up to push away a Mathew Finn effort before then scrambling across the line to push away a loose ball as Bernard’s wondered how they didn’t make the opportunity count.

Substitute JP Keary had a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside just minutes after his introduction, before the winners lost their way a little and Mervue became the more threatening side the last quarter.

Another brilliant Colm King save maintained the status quo on 72 minutes when Dave Cummins set up McGrath, but once more the custodian performed his duty with a crucial stop.

Then when Cummins broke through, Bernard’s skipper Dwane Finn produced a marvellous challenge to help maintain their slender lead. A Dave O’Boyle effort looked goal bound until Adrian Roche was in the right place at the right time to deflect it away and following a Dowling free kick, Dave Walsh was just off target with a subtle lob.

However the missed chances were put in perspective when a smart counter attack produced the crucial third goal for Bernard’s on 86 minutes. A Carey pass released Eoghan Roche down the left and when his pace took him clear of the cover, his unselfish pullback from almost on the by line gave Jason Finn a simple tap in for a 3-1 advantage.

However the game did not have a happy conclusion for Mervue United goalkeeper Darren Roche as he injured an elbow in attempting to prevent the goal and he had to depart the fray to get medical attention and was replaced by Dave Walsh.