Arra cause upset in Kennedy Cup Final

SOCCER: North Tipperary & District League – Division 2 Nora Kennedy Cup Final

 

Arra Rovers 3

Borrisokane FC 1

 

By Padraig Ryan in Moneygall

 

Arra Rovers upset the odds on Sunday claiming the Nora Kennedy Cup with an impressive 3-1 win over league champions Borrisokane FC.

Two wonder goals from Arra’s AJ Willis sealed the win for the Portroe side after Borrisokane had initially led through Jack Mahoney.

Arra had equalised through Ruadhán Mulrooney before Willis turned on the style to beat the heavy favourites and bring the Nora Kennedy Cup back to Portroe.

Despite the poor conditions there was a big turnout for this cup final in Moneygall, a venue that is probably the best around at the moment. Borrisokane came into this game as red hot favourites having enjoyed a hugely successful league campaign, securing the title with weeks to spare and recording big wins over their opposition during the campaign. Arra on the other hand have had an up and down year with some impressive victories but never managed to quite get a title challenge going.

Rovers start belied their league position as they matched their favoured opponents from the off, although both sides initially struggled with the slippery conditions and the quality of the game was low for the opening minutes. Arra were having the better of proceedings in that opening twenty minute spell with Dermot O’Halloran dominant at the back laying a foundation for a number of forays forward. John Sheedy was showing some lovely touches in the middle for Arra and Mulrooney was putting himself about, almost getting on the end of one lovely dinked pass from Sheedy on 20 minutes.

Rovers were forced into a change after 27 minutes and it was one that was to have a huge impact on the result of the game. William Fogarty had been busy in the opening half hour, putting in tackles and setting the tone in the midfield battle, however a late hit on Borrisokane’s James Hough resulted in a yellow card and he was fortunate not to receive a second yellow for a similar foul minutes later. Player-manager O’Halloran had seen enough and he made a change, withdrawing Fogarty for Willis.

The last quarter of an hour of the opening period was dominated by Borris and Arra struggled to get out of their half. That being said there were few clear cut chances for Borris, the only one falling to John Butler when a save by Darren Aherne in the Rovers goal rebounded to Butler, but he shot wide with Aherne stranded.

The second half continued in much the same vein until a flurry of action saw Borris take the lead. Firstly Callan Cottrell went through one on one and then went to ground, Arra appeals for a penalty were correctly dismissed by referee Derek Halpin. Two minutes later Borris broke down their left and Wayne Cawley crossed deep to the back post. The ball was cut back by Butler to Mahoney who finished at the near post.

To their credit Arra kept fighting and they were level six minutes later, Mulrooney played through one v one and he finished low to the bottom corner. Less than five minutes after that, right on the hour mark, Arra were in front. Cottrell kept the ball alive down the right hand side before playing a pass to Willis who buried a 25 yard strike with his left foot into the far top corner.

Borris pushed hard for the last half hour to try and pull level but Rovers held firm with O’Halloran again to the fore. Cottrell was proving a menace at the other end, constantly giving an out ball to the Rovers defence and earning throw-ins and free-kicks deep inside Borris territory to give his side a reprieve.

With minutes left to play and Borris getting desperate, Rovers hit them with a sucker punch, Mulrooney turning provider with a pass inside to Willis who this time finished right footed from 20 yards to send the Portroe crowd wild.

A super win for Rovers after an outstanding display, captain Cathal O’Brien presented with the trophy by NT&DL’s John Murphy.

 

Man of the Match: Callan Cottrell (Arra Rovers)

Arra Rovers: Darren Aherne, Diarmuid Boyle, Dermot O’Halloran, Sam Madden, Calvin Coleman, Anthony Burke, Cathal O’Brien, John Sheedy, William Fogarty, Ruadhrán Mulrooney, Callan Cottrell
Subs: Adrien Willis for Fogarty, Jack Maloney for Coleman, Barry Connaghty for Cottrell

Borrisokane FC: Andy Nevin; Michael Gavin, Gordon Harding, James Hough, Jack Mahoney, Cathal Whelan, Ger Comerford, Kevin Harding, Wayne Cawley, John Butler, Conor Gavin

Subs: Lewellyn Mooney for C Gavin, Neil Kennelly for Whelan, Shane Stapleton for K Harding
Referee: Derek Halpin