Glebe North 3-2 Ringmahon Rangers
(After exra-time)
An extra-time penalty from Reece Weldon secured the FAI Intermediate Cup for the first time in Glebe North's 79-year history as the north Co Dublin side defeated Ringmahon Rangers 3-2 in a pulsating cup final at Weavers Park in Drogheda.
In what will go down as one of the great Intermediate cup deciders, both sides led the game at different periods. It was forced to extra time with a last-minute goal from Ringmahon’s Aaron Ahern, but Weldon was the hero for Glebe, blasting home his spot-kick in extra-time to bring the trophy back to Balbriggan.
It was non-stop action from the first minute and it was the Cork side who opened the scoring.
Jamie O’Sullivan helped on a cross from Phillip Keane on the right into the path of the onrushing Evan Galvin who dived low to head it past Aaron Kiernan.
Glebe had their first sight on goal when Christopher McCarthy blocked Ryan O’Shea’s well-struck effort. Jack Cairns went close to getting a second for Ringmahon Rangers, striking a low effort from the edge of the area which Kiernan did well to save.
Weldon then drew a great save from Eric Grimes after the Glebe winger latched onto an Ahu Obhakhan pass on the edge of the area, with his low curling effort pushed away for a corner.
Issa Kargbo then struck the Glebe post after galloping on to a good through ball.
O’Sullivan almost netted for the Cork side after he broke down the left into the Glebe goal area but his low effort trickled narrowly wide.
Obhakhan had a chance to equalise after he got in behind the Ringmahon defence but his effort went well wide of Grimes' goal.
Glebe levelled it up in the opening minutes of the second half following a sweeping move that saw McCann play the ball into the path of Coleman who slotted it past Grimes.
Ringmahon Rangers almost went ahead again when a cross from the left from O’Sullivan was met in the area by Evan Galvin but his header went over the bar.
Glebe took the lead when Obhakhan chested down a cross from the right into the path of O’Shea who struck a low volley to beat Grimes at the far post.
However Ringmahon Rangers refused to lie down. In added time a free-kick caused panic in the Glebe area and Ahern hooked the loose ball home.
In extra-time Greaney forced a save from Kiernan as Ringmahon went inches to taking the lead once more but in the next attack, Glebe were awarded a penalty following a foul after an initial save from Grimes.
Weldon stood up for Glebe and despatched the penalty, sending Grimes the wrong way.
Ringmahon were reduced to ten men as Jamie O’Sullivan was sent off for a challenge on O’Shea in added on time as he tried to prevent a Glebe counter attack.
And the final whistle sparked wild celebrations as Darius Kierans’ side clinched the trophy for the first time in their history.
Glebe North FC: Kiernan, McCann, Kierans, Cluskey-Kelly, Brennan (Connor, 73), Smith, Weldon, Barrett, Obhakhan (Simic, 112), Coleman (Hamzat, 85), O’Shea.
Ringmahon Rangers: Grimes, Keane (Long, 105), Delurey (Ahern, 76), McCarthy, Whitehead, Kenny, Kargbo (O’Callaghan 76), O’Sullivan, Cairns (Greaney, 96), McAlavey, Galvin (Harlson, 84).
Referee: Vincent Coonan.
