This article is from page 56 of the 2011-11-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 56 JPG
Lifford AFC 3 – Avenue United 2 at Lees Road, Ennis
NOTHING like a local derby to whet soccer appetites in the county capital – especially when there’s some silverare up for grabs.
So it was that bluebloods Avenue United and 50 years young Lifford produced a cracking Sunday afternoon contest for the first piece of premier silverware on offer in the 2011/12 season.
Honours went to Lifford, as for once they emerged from the shadow of the illustrious neighbours that were formed as a breakaway club way back in 1983 thanks to this edging this five-goal thriller.
And Lifford can say they did it the hard way, coming from a goal down and being generally outplayed by Avenue side the first half to forging 3-1 on 75 minutes and then withstanding everything Avenue could throw at them in a frantic finish.
It looked to be Avenue’s to win in that first half once they grabbed the initiative after 15 minutes when David McCarthy beat Lifford’s off-side trap and raced through unimpeded on Lifford’s goal before nonchalantly dispatching the leather past Jean de Silva.
By this stage a clear pattern had emerged – Avenue were playing the ball to feet, constructively trying to tease out openings, while Lifford adopted the route one and up and under approach to goal.
Which ever cap fits, because it worked Donal Magee’s charges on 25 minutes when a long ball was met by the ultra-competitive Lunga Balman in the air, with his close range header beating a hitherto virtually redudant John Healy in Avenue’s goal.
It was like an injection to Lifford because from there they grew in confidence, while Avenue lost their most influential player in David McCarthy to injury nine minutes before halftime.
McCarthy wasn’t the only person struck down – referee Tommy Guilfoyle had hamstring problems and was replaced at half-time by Dave McCarthy.
Lifford struck for a second two minutes after half-time when Lunga Balman turned provider – his cross from out near corner flag on right finding Darren O’Neill who nodded low to Healy’s left for a the lead goal.
It got better on 75 minutes when Ruairi Norrby benefitted from great work in the build up by Scott Hen nessy to beat Healy with a low drive – a goal that Lifford were full value for as they turned the screw on a strangley ragged Avenue.
All Avenue could do for the closing 25 minutes was circle the wagons – they did that but their only reward was an 89th minute goal from Mattie Nugent when his free kick from the left wing flew all the way to the net past de Silva.
It teed up a hectic finale but Lifford had done enough to mark their Golden Anniversary with some silverware.
It’s been a long time coming. Thirty five years since they won the last of their three Clare Cup titles.
Lifford
Jean De Silva, Joe Lynch (Paul Cantillon), Hamed Kuku, Mickey Joe O’Sullivan, Dylan Blake, Ruairi Norrby (Julius Lake),TJ Ajisomo (Pa Mannion), Pat Darcy, Lunga Balman, Darren O’Neill, Scott Hennessy.
Avenue United
John Healy, Dylan Casey, David Russell, Mattie Nugent, Simon Cuddy, Gary Flynn (ColmMullen) Con Collins, David Herlihy, Sean Corry, David McCarthy (Barry Nugent), Mikey Mahony.
Referee
Tommy Guilfoyle