This article is from page 62 of the 2011-05-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
Avenue United 0 – Tulla United 0 (After Extra-Time) (Avenue won 4-3 on penalties) at The County Grounds, Doora
IT was tense, like all semi-finals in the nervous rush to participation in the showpiece of the Clare soccer year, but it was also open with plenty of chances at both ends before it was all decided in the most dramatic way possible – the dreaded, but at the same time much loved, penalty shoot-out.
As it turned out the order of things in Clare soccer was maintained at the end – Avenue in search of a 14th Clare Cup final place edged over the line against a Tulla team bidding to reach the final for the first time.
John Healy was the man – in heroic fashion the veteran of many an Avenue battle overcame a wrist problem that struck during the shootout, breaking Tulla hearts with three saves.
Avenue will feel they should have won this game in the first half when they created numerous half-chances, some gilt-edged chances too, but spurned the lot of them that was a early replica of their first half showing against Newmarket Celtic in the league the previous week.
As early as the tenth minute David Russell headed a good chance over the bar when connecting with a David Smythe cross – it was a portent of things to come as Con Collins, Mikey Mahony also spurned chances, while David McCarthy’s decision to go for an spectacular overhead kick, instead of putting Con Collins through in the the 35th minute was more evidence of their profligacy.
Avenue did put the ball in the net on 38 minute when Russell headed home, but with the offside flag up it didn’t count.
Tulla may have been charmed, but they had their own chances, especially in the second half when opportunity knocked for Alan Brigdale and Niall Whelan, while the best chance of the day fell to Trevor Corbett with 15 minutes remaining, but he failed to breach Healy’s defences.
It was a portent of things to come for Tulla in the penalty shoot-out after the two ten-minute periods of extra-time failed to produce a goal. However, the east Clare men got the best possible start when Con Collins drove Avenue’s first penalty off the crossbar.
Gearóid O’Doherty then converted for Tulla, with David Russell reply – ing. Niall Whelan then found the target for Tulla, before Alan Roche converted for Avenue.
A turning point came when Healy saved Darragh Corry’s kick, injuring his hand in the process.
Barry Nugent made it 3-2 before Keith Lenihan replied to make it 33. Gary Flynn missed his kick was then saved by Shane Collins, but then Healy emerged as the hero, again saving from Dennis Murphy and after Pa Wilson put Avenue 4-3 up, Healy again stood firm in goal to the champions through.
Avenue United
John Healy, Simon Cuddy (Dylan Casey), David Russell Mattie Nugent (Gary Flynn), Colin Smyth, David Smyth, Pa Wilson, Con Collins, David Herlihy (Alan Roche), David McCarthy (Barry Nugent), Mikey Mahony (Jack Walsh).
Tulla United
Shane Collins,TomByrnes,Padraig O’Malley, Niall Whelan, Dennis Murphy,Tommy McKeown (Keith Lenihan),Trevor Corbett (Gearóid O’Doherty), Shane Mason (Brian Hehir), Darragh Corry,Alan Brigdale, Colin Nelson. Unused Subs Paul Whelan, PaudgeVaughan, Mike McDermott, Kevin Delohery.
Man of the Match
John Healy (Avenue United)
Referee
John Murray