Sheriff YC 2-0 Evergreen
Sheriff YC lifted their fourth Aviva/Umbro sponsored FAI Junior Cup in six years as a goal in each half earned them victory against Evergreen in Saturday’s final at the Aviva Stadium.
At the end of a first half they dominated, the holders forged ahead through Stephen Murphy’s free-kick and despite the Kilkenny side mounting a comeback after the break, another of the four Murphy brothers, Paul, sealed the triumph with a second goal.
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It looked to be a frustrating afternoon for the Dublin side when their constant pressure failed to deliver the breakthrough until the final moments of the half.
When John Rock had been denied from close-range by a superb Packie Holden save, the ball broke and Evergreen conceded a free on the edge of their box. Up stepped Stephen Murphy to curl his low shot around the wall and past Holden despite the goalkeeper getting a hand on the effort.
By that stage, Sheriff had missed a litany of chances, mainly through Sean and Stephen Murphy, but Evergreen, contesting their first final since 1984, enjoyed their moments too.
A surge by Mikey Drennan to the end-line on the half hour resulted in a left-wing cross which Daryl Walshe was prevented from getting a touch to by the advancing Lee Murphy.
The Sheriff goalkeeper was also at his best in batting away a thunderous shot from Chris Whearty after the winger cut in from the left.
Still, once Sheriff edged into the lead they held control. Apart from Whearty’s shot with 20 minutes left which flew over the crossbar and another effort late on by substitute Lee Delaney, Evergreen couldn’t convert their possession superiority into clearcut chances.
As they gambled in pursuit of an equaliser late on, gaps appeared at the back and the clinical Sheriff profited. Darren Dunne teed up the overlapping Paul Murphy with a superb pass and the rampaging right-back beat Holden with a crisp shot.
SHERIFF YC: L Murphy; P Murphy, A Kavanagh, G McDermott (J Flood 70), J O'Neill; Stephen Murphy (J Murphy 90), J Lester, M Higgins (T Dunne 87), D Dunne, Sean Murphy; J Rock.
EVERGREEN: P Holden; T Earls (Corr 90), N Andrews, D Whearty (S Johntson), R Quane (D McQuillan 70), D Walshe, D Barcoe, B Jordan (L Delaney 59), C Whearty (J Owens 84); M Drennan, C English.
Referee: P Kilcoyne.
* Liffey on the spot in thrilling intermediate final
Earlier, Liffey Wanderers emerged victorious after a thrilling Intermediate Cup final against Cobh Wanderers was decided on penalties.
Liffey opened the scoring on 71 minutes through Clayton Maher but Cobh's Conor Meade equalised to send the game into extra-time.
Again, Liffey seized the advantage thanks to a solo effort by Aidan Roche and looked set for victory until Meade levelled for the second time in the dying seconds.
But Liffey would not be denied and took the spoils 5-4 in the shootout.
