Bridge Celtic take title on penalties

Bridge Celtic 0   Connolly Celtic 0
(Bridge Celtic won 3-2 on penalties)

Disappointed to have been relegated from the Premier League last season, Bridge Celtic got a great boost on Sunday at the County Grounds in Doora when they won the First Division League Cup.
A penalty shoot-out was required after they had played a scoreless draw with Connolly Celtic.
Given that they enjoyed a lot of possession, Connolly Celtic will be particularly disappointed with the outcome.
The South East Clare side laid the foundations for this win in defence where Diarmuid Ahern, Luke Turner, William Slattery and Patrick Conway were excellent throughout.
Connolly had an opportunity to take the lead ten minutes into the game but Alan Markham dragged his effort narrowly wide.
Five minutes later, Bridge
Celtic’s Alan Conway cut in along the endline and looked to have scored but the Connolly defence scrambled the ball to safety as it was about to cross the goal line.
Ken Kennedy saw his effort go narrowly over the bar while at the other end, Niall Quinn saved well from Ian Smith.
Bridge Celtic started well in the second half and looked to have taken the lead with a diving Paul McEvoy header, only for Quinn in the Connolly goal to somehow turn the ball around the post for a corner.
Less than ten minutes later Connolly looked to be about to score when John Kelly crossed to the in-rushing Mickey Byrnes but Patrick Conway made a timely interception at the expense of a corner. Quinn came to connolly’s aid again shortly after this when he denied Dean Sinnott.
There were few scoring opportunities in extra time when referee Martin O’Brien issued a red card to Connolly substitute Kieran Dillon.
At the end of the regular five penalties, the sides were still level at 2-2 each. In sudden death, Dean Sinnott scored the all-important kick for Bridge Celtic while Ken Kennedy, Connolly’s best players on the day, saw his effort go over the top.

Bridge Celtic: Paul O’Connell; Diarmuid Ahern, Luke Turner, Patrick Conway, William Slattery, Willie Neary, Paul McEvoy, Trevor Howard, Ian Smith, Alan Conway, Dean Sinnott.
Subs: Shane Moloney for Smith; Fergal Lyons for Neary.
Connolly Celtic: Niall Quinn; Andy Clancy, Barry Lynch, Keith O’Looney, Ken Kennedy, Shane O’Connor, Yan Feck, Brendan Dillon, Mickey Byrnes, Pat Hogan, Alan Markham.
Subs: Senan McCarthy for Byrnes; Kieran Dillon for O’Looney; John Kelly for O’Connor; Senan Courtney for Feck.