Collins’ late strike clinches youths cup

Mountshannon Celtic 1

Newmarket Celtic  2

VICTORY in the Michael O’Gorman Youths Cup final on Saturday was extra special for Newmarket Celtic as they had tasted defeat in both the U-17 and U-19 cup finals in the preceding weeks.
Going into Saturday’s final, some of the team were determined not to lose a third cup decider in as many weeks and a late strike from Ian Collins ensured this did not happen.
The win means Newmarket are now one step away from the youths and junior cup double, a feat they can achieve if their juniors manage to retain the title at the same venue on Saturday.
Mountshannon Celtic were the better team throughout the first half and went close to taking the lead after 15 minutes, when a cross from Michael Barrett was met by Liam Corry on the edge of the box. However, his effort was well saved by Cathal Finucane in the Newmarket goal. The East Clare outfit deservedly took the lead on the half-hour mark when John Scanlan got on the end of a through ball from Corry and finished well to the right corner.
Just three minutes later, Finucane came off his line quickly to save from William Glass, who looked set to double Mountshannon’s lead. Good defending from John Feehily denied Scanlan again five minutes from the half-time whistle.
Newmarket finished the half strongly with a shot from Ian Collins that narrowly missed the target and a free kick from Cathal Hayes just went over the crossbar.
Ten minutes into the new half, Paudie Conway, from the edge of the box, brought a good save out of Andrew O’Dwyer in the Mountshannon goal. On the hour mark, Mountshannon had a great chance to go two ahead but Scanlan was denied again by a great save from Finucane.
Newmarket should have drawn level two minutes later when Collins got some space inside the box but O’Dwyer saved. Newmarket drew level with 15 minutes remaining when a long-range free kick from Feehily took a big deflection off a Mountshannon defender and ended up in the net.
Both sides gave it everything in search of a winning goal in the last 15 minutes. Hayes went close for Newmarket when he got on the end of a corner but O’Dwyer was on hand to make the save. Collins had an effort from a free kick on the edge of the box saved again by O’Dwyer 10 minutes from the final whistle.
Mountshannon had a great chance to go back in front with six minutes remaining but were denied by a brilliant double save from Finucane, who first kept out an effort from Scanlan and then reacted quickly to deny Niall Dear.
Just when it looked like the game was going to extra time, Collins picked up a ball on the edge of the Mountshannon box and his shot finished in the right corner, despite the best efforts of O’Dwyer. There was no way back for Mountshannon and Newmarket held on in stoppage time for the victory.
After the game, league secretary Oliver Fitzpatrick presented the cup to Newmarket captain Cathal Hayes, amid great scenes of celebration.

Newmarket Celtic: Cathal Finucane, Cathal Noonan, Liam O’Connor, Killian Howard, Paudie McMahon, John Feehily, Owen McCarthy, Shane McMahon, Ian Collins, Cathal Hayes, Paudie Conway.
Subs: Simba Makoni for Howard, Conor McCarthy for O McCarthy, Jack O’Connor for Conway and James Freemen for Collins.
Mountshannon Celtic: Andrew O’Dwyer, Oran Scanlan, Kieran Jones, Martin Cunningham, Dale Harrington, Niall Dear, Michael Barrett, William Glass, Liam Corry, John Scanlan, Niall Minogue.
Sub: Ricky Bolton for Minogue.
Referee: Pat Gleeson.
Assistant referees: Martin Monaghan and Frankie Coote.