This article is from page 94 of the 2009-04-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 94 JPG
PENALTY shoot-outs rarely have fa- vourites but even in the tension, there were little signs that this was going to be Shannon Olympic’s day.
After Ray Quigley saw his spot kick saved by Rhine goalkeeper Ro- nan Gallagher, referee David McCa- rthy ordered the strike re-taken, for Gallagher’s movement off the line.
Quigley made no mistake at the second time of asking. With the score 4-4, Paul O’Connor stepped up for Olympic’s first sudden death penalty.
Again Gallagher saved. Or so it seemed. In pushing the ball clear, Gallagher was dealt a massive stroke of bad luck when it rebounded off his foot and trickled back into the net.
Seconds later David Collins thumped home before Olympic goal- ie Kieran McCarthy guessed cor- rectly to save from Enda Malone. We
had our winners, a mightily jubilant Olympic.
As cup-ties go, you couldn’t have asked for much more. In an action packed first half, Rhine scored early on before Olympic struck twice to lead 2-1.
In first half of injury time, Noel Donnellan felled David O’Brien in- side the box. Johnny O’Brien con- verted from the spot for his second ON alomee NYA
From there on Olympic had more clear chances than their opponents to win it. Rhine too had their moments and even had a goal rubbed out for handball in the closing stages of ex- tra time.
Second Division Rhine set the ball rolling when Johnny O’Brien thumped home from the edge of the area in the 10th minute. It didn’t take long for Olympic to respond with O’Connor’s terrific strike restoring parity.
Gallagher’s booming free kicks regularly located Rhine’s _ lively frontmen and caused plenty of prob- lems for Olympic’s back four.
But with Jason Regan and Don- nacha Kelly pulling the strings for Olympic, it was the Shannon side who edged ahead. Wayne Regan whipped in a terrific corner and Kelly rose to head home in the 32nd minute.
Rhine persevered and were reward- ed with an equaliser through Johnny O’Brien’s penalty. David O’Brien’s half volley shaved the post just after half time. At the other end, Gallagher did well to keep out Jason Regan. Ol- ympic had a better chance moments later when O’Connor’s shot bounced to Gallagher.
The last chance of normal time fell to Rhine’s Caimin O’Connor who pulled his shot just wide. O’Connor again went close for Olympic in the first half of extra time as did Ray
Quigley.
It was time for penalties. Johnny O’Brien and Jason Regan both netted before the tie was eventually settled in Olympic’s favour.
Rhine go back to chasing promo- tion. Olympic, well placed near the summit of division one with a cup Semi-final to come, can still dream of the double.