Mickey Walsh is some boy I'll tell ye! He demanded to hit the 5th penalty and then chipped the keeper in the process. Without doubt the man's as mad as a big bright yellow fence. In this scenario he was the right man for the big occasion.
The first five minutes of this game saw more action than the entire 90 in last weeks City Cup final.
Clifton Villa were quick off the blocks and dictated the pace of the game for the first 30 minutes. In defence Clifton were on top and in Kevin Cassidy they had a player who bombed down the line at every opportunity. Centre midfielder Oran Cassidy was also a key figure. He was excellent in the tackle and quick to set up attacks.
Newtowne started slowly with a number of players struggling to find the pace of the game. Fortunately the back line of Newtowne's was on the ball. O'Hara and O'Brien were brilliant from the start. O'Hara attacked the ball and nearly always came out with the ball. His partner Mickey O'Brien was the best player on the pitch throughout. Wing backs Magee and O'Reilly were tested but both came out on top.
With Tracey missing Newtowne's defence load was lightened but the back four adid keep McCallion and Deeney quiet.
Despite being in control Villa didn't make Norris work hard enough in the Newtowne nets. Deeney had two chances but neither were a major source of concern. On the other hand Newtowne had the better chances in the first half. Gavin Bradley made fine stops from Deighan and Blain Morrison. Bradley stopped well from Deighan but the shot spilled fortunately for Villa it fell to a defender.
Just after the ½ hour Villa had a strong penalty claim turned down. From the next attack Blain Morrison attacked and kept his feet when caught by a defender.
The half's best chance fell to Anthony Loughery. John Deighan showed quick feet and great skill and went on a storming run beating 3 defenders. He released Loughery but he shot wide. Newtowne lifted by the industrious Walsh relied before the half time whistle.
The first half was dominated by Villa but Newtowne had the better chances with Gavin Bradley the busier of the two keepers.
The second half saw Villa slow up a bit, they couldn't continue playing at the intensity of the first half. Walsh and Nicholl became key in the Newtowne midfield and Marty Harkin got more involved as the game progressed. Nearly every Villa forward thrust ended at the head of Mickey O'Brien.
Newtowne competed better in this half and with Morrison getting more change out of Cassidy they began to take charge for the first time. In the last 15 minutes Newtowne began to put pressure on Villa for the first time. With time running out Martin Harkin sent in a lovely cross and with the goal at his mercy Loughery headed wide.
The game ended goal less.
Penalties looked the likely outcome from the outset. Both young keepers were on top of their game. Sam Norris has now kept two clean sheets in Cup finals and he is back to the kind of form that attracted Irish league interest a few years ago.
Minutes into extra time Mickey Walsh rasped the crossbar with a free kick from 35 yards, the keeper never saw it. Soon after O'Hara cleared off the line when Nash lobbed past Norris. Newtowne were the best side in the first period as Villa looked tired.
The second period was Villa's. They went for it and threw caution to the wind. Darren Harkin saw a header skim the post from a corner and Deeney had a fine shot go just wide. However Norris and the excellent back four were in miserable mood and let nothing by.
The dreaded penalty shoot out. Marty Harkin, who just got better as the game progressed, scored first. Morrison followed , slamming the ball down the middle. Norris saved the 2nd penalty brilliantlyand then calmly slotted in Newtowne's 3rd. Newtowne's quiet hero Nicholl scored no. 4. Walsh was faced with a penalty to win the Matt Morrison Junior Cup for the first time.
Instead of reaching for the Inversoft and blasting the ball, he calmly chipped the ball over Bradley. The ball crawled in, I may even have sucked it in behind the goals. The ball didn't even reach the back of the net. It was pure class, but he would have looked a right prat had he missed, the line between quality and being ordinary is a thin one indeed.
Walsh's goal saw scenes of mass celebration among the Newts. Backs were thumped, hairs tossed, fists waved madly in the air, anyone wearing red was hugged and then a scrum. Normally reserved Newtowne people were jumping up and down singing championies. Great Scenes, scenes which will live long in the memory.
The Matt Morrison Junior Cup was presented by Gerry Morrison, son of Matt, to Anthony Loughery. Having beat BB, Bohs and Villa along the way, I don't think anyone could say Newtowne did it the easy way.
This is a prestigious cup and everyone at Newtowne is incrdibly proud of the efforts of the boys on their success. A cup double in 6 days, hard to believe.
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