Arra claim Cup glory in extra time thriller

SOCCER: North Tipperary & District League First Division Barry Cup Final

Arra Rovers 4

Thurles Town 2 (after extra time)

Report & Photos: Gary Culbert in Moneygall

Arra Rovers claimed much needed silverware as they saw off Thurles Town, after extra time, to win the First Division Barry Cup final on Sunday.

Heavy rainfall meant that the two cup games down for decision on Sunday were called off, but Moneygall’s pitch held firm to host the Barry Cup final. Both sides were well supported, but the poor weather definitely took from the crowds that were expected.

Thurles deployed a back five and Arra a back three, in theory these formations are the same, but the way in which Arra exploited their wingers was wonderful, deployed them in extremely advanced positions to devastating effect, creating overloads and pressing high when out of possession.

The Arra Rovers line up was youthful and bursting with pace, whereas the Thurles Town eleven had masses of experience and was physically strong throughout.

Dermot O’Halloran’s charges pressed from the start, whilst Thurles, on the contrary, knew better than to tire themselves out chasing the ball in the Arra half.

Tom Dorney’s men were pinned in by Arra for the opening twenty minutes and the situation was made worse by their inability to make the ball stick when it was launched in the general direction of their physical strikers Jack O’Donnell and Joe Hennessey. The Thurles strike partnership did show glimpses of their exceptional link up play, but it was the ball work of Patrick Wizisky and Dylan Gayson down the left that gave Thurles the most respite from the early Arra onslaught.

The Portroe side took a deserved lead on the 27th minute after a shot – that seemed harmless - skipped up off Jim Gooney and went out for a corner. Cathal O’Brien took the corner short and received it back before curling in from the left, AJ Willis got up early and leaped above his marker at the front post and headed the ball inside the back post.

Thurles had no out-ball were facing wave after wave from the blanket Arra attack, which consisted of no less than six willing runners in behind, spread across the defensive line that player/manager Eoin Dorney was marshalling.

Last season’s Barry Cup final took place eight months ago in Drombane, on that day the Rearcross and Clodiagh supporters deployed umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, but on Sunday it was a completely different story as a torrential hail downpour blew in late in the first half.

Around this time Thurles slowly began to grow into the game and in the 40th minute created a great chance for Jack O’Connell after some fine link up play between Gayson and Wizisky down the left, but the striker saw his low effort saved by the feet of Kevin O’Halloran.

Thurles made a change at the break and enjoyed a positive start to the second half. Arra had a shot from a corner blocked, whilst Joe Hennessey headed just over from a corner at the other end.

Surprisingly, lethal goal threat Tommy Brophy started on the bench for Thurles, but the risk of starting him on the bench was rewarded less than five minutes after the veteran’s introduction. Arra should have gone two up when a surreal moment saw Eoin Maloney with the freedom of Moneygall after beating the offside trap, but with only the keeper to beat the young winger miss-hit the shot.

Eoin Maloney’s hands were still on his head in disbelief when Tommy Brophy found the net in the 57th minute with his first faint sniff of goal. The veteran pounced on a poor touch from the Arra centre-back before steeling down the inside left channel and unleashing a powerful shot from fifteen yards on his weaker left foot, which went in off the keeper at the near post.

There was a serious clash of heads in the 62nd minute which left Dylan Gayson down for a long time, but thankfully the Thurles wing back was able to walk off the pitch after some worrying scenes.

Thurles were the better team in the second half, and they went in front in the 68th minute when Joe Hennessey headed in a corner after some indecision in the Arra box.

Arra Rover forced extra time with five minutes to go when Ruadhán Mulrooney scored a truly brilliant header. Eoin Maloney provided the in-swinging right footed cross from 25 yards on the left, which was set to land on the head of a Thurles defender, but from nowhere Mulrooney arrived like a train and did not break stride as he lashed the ball into the top corner to the delight of the Portroe faithful.

In the 90th minute Mulrooney almost headed in a winner but for some superb defending at the back post by JJ Gleeson.

Arra stole back in front just moments into extra time as Callan Cottrell scored a breath-taking solo goal. The pacey forward picked up the ball on the edge of the Thurles box before chipping it up and over the heads of the centre backs and running onto it, the keeper came out to smother, but Cottrell slid in to meet the ball and send it to the net.

It was easily the best goal seen in North Tipp this season, and to do it in extra time of a cup final that is on the edge is even more impressive.

Thurles were reduced to ten men late in the first period after JJ Gleeson got a second yellow following an incident with AJ Willis.

Arra Rovers sealed the deal four minutes into the second period of extra time as Callan Cottrell played in Sean Nightingale down the left, who made no mistake with a clever front post finish.

Arra Rovers FC: Kevin O’Halloran; Jack Maloney, Diarmuid Boyle; Aodhan Ryan; Aidan O’Dwyer, Cathal O’Brien, AJ Willis; Eoin Maloney; Ruadhán Mulrooney, Callan Cottrell.

Subs: Barry Connaughton for Ryan (71), Anthony Collins for Cathal O’Brien (10 ET), Kiefer O’Brien for Mulrooney (10 ET), Sean Nightingale for Willis (10 ET); Brian Keating for Eoin Maloney (26 ET).

Thurles Town FC: Jim Gooney; JJ Gleeson, Dylan Gayson, Tom Dorney, Michael Butler, Owen Dorney; Tom Quigley, Patrick Gleeson, Patrick Wizisky; Jack O’Donnell, Joe Hennessey.

Subs: Curtis Ryan for Wizisky (45), Tommy Brophy for O’Connell (52), Chris Brabston for Gayson (67), Jack O’Connell for Hennessey (75), Eamon Delaney for T Dorney (10 ET).

Referee: John Hayes