Brendan Scahill's solitary strike was enough to earn Castlelack the 2018 SuperValu West Cork League Masters Shield trophy following victory over Bantry Bay Seniors in Castletownkenneigh.
CASTLELACK 1
BANTRY BAY SENIORS 0
GER McCARTHY REPORTS
BRENDAN Scahill’s solitary strike was enough to earn Castlelack the 2018 SuperValu West Cork League Masters Shield trophy following victory over Bantry Bay Seniors in Castletownkenneigh.
A tight final contested between two evenly matched teams was decided by a fourth minute goal when Bantry Bay allowed Brendan Scahill to muscle his way into the penalty area and find the bottom corner with a low shot.
Castlelack were unable to build on their early lead but managed to hold off Bay Seniors’ spirited challenge thanks to a combination of solid defending and goalkeeper Tadhg Curtin’s composure.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium following Scahill’s opener during a Shield final that produced plenty of decent approach play but poor finishing.
Bantry had a goal correctly ruled out for offside after 18 minutes and Colm O’Donoghue forced Tadhg Curtin into action shortly after but Castlelack’s defence – expertly marshalled by Pa Barry and Richie Fleming – were able to see out the opening half with the minimum of fuss.
Play became stretched in the second period as Bantry Bay pushed further forward and Castlelack sat deep, looking to counter-attack at the earliest opportunity. Bay’s goalkeeper Paul McCarthy was called upon to make a succession of saves in a half, while Castlelack’s Sean Murray, Sean O’Connell and John Ahern were guilty of failing to find the target with wayward shots.
Both teams emptied their respective substitutes benches during the closing stages before Castlelack carved open their best chance of the half. Brendan Scahill sent an inch-perfect cross towards Paul Kelleher but the striker’s header missed the goal with only Paul McCarthy to beat.
A hectic two minutes of injury time failed to produce an equaliser and Castlelack held on to deservedly claim the Masters Shield trophy. Pa Barry, Richie Fleming, Paul Kelleher and Ray McCarthy were the pick of the winners’ best players on an evening Paul McCarthy, Tim O’Sullivan, Colm O’Donoghue and Michael O’Connell impressed for Bantry Bay.
Lifting the SuperValu Masters Shield trophy for a second time in the club’s history capped off a memorable few days for the winners.
Earlier in the week, Castlelack announced plans to detail the club’s move to a new home in Brinny during the upcoming FAI visit and were also awarded the 2018 Southern Star West Cork Schoolboys League Club of the Year accolade.
Bantry Bay Seniors: Paul McCarthy, Jerry Daly, Jimmy O’Sullivan, Michael O’Connell, Mike Cronin, Ger O’Sullivan, Tom Farley, Tim O’Sullivan, Colm O’Donoghue, John Daly (captain), Seamus O’Mahony, Liam Maddock, Joe O’Halloran, Tim O’Brien, Fergal Conlon, Richie Mullany.
Castlelack: Tadhg Curtin, Brian Powell, John Ahern, Pa Barry, Richie Fleming, Ray McCarthy (captain), Ger Sheehan, Sean Murray, Brendan Scahill, Paul Kelleher, Sean O’Connell, Dan O’Brien, Cian Kiely, Liam Hurley.
Referee: Patrick Hurley.
