Tommy Heffernan Cup Final

 St Peter’s 3        (4 Penalties)

Avonmore 3     (2 Penalties)

Little Bray Community Centre.

Eoin Horkan 

St Peter’s made home advantage count even after going down to ten men to come out on top on penalties in the curtain raiser for the Wicklow senior soccer league on Friday night. It was goalkeeper  Mark O’ Sullivan who netted the  penalty to give his side victory. 

Avonmore who had travelled  up the M11 for the tie started the game much stronger with Mark Cullen controlling the midfielder and Adam Tuke causing damaged on the wing. It was Tuke who unleashed an early effort, but it was well saved by the opposition goalkeeper. St Peter’s who were playing a high defensive line got caught out when Callum Pursey broke the line, but his effort flew well wide with only the goalie to beat. The home sides first major chance came halfway through the half as winger Jake Kane broke down the wing, but his cross come shot flew wide of the post. The game then changed in the thirty third minute when Pursey’s goal bound effort for Avonmore was kept out by the hand of centre back Dan Kelly. This resulted in a red card and a penalty that was well finished by Tuke to give his side the lead. Within minutes of the penalty the visitors doubled their lead as Ryan Cahill broke through one on one to finish into the corner. With ten minutes to go in the first half Cian O’ Hannain drove down the wing for Avonmore his effort from a narrow angle flew wide.  The final chance of the half fell to the home side as Tony Harris’s effort was tipped onto the post by the Avonmore goalie got keep his sides lead intact.

Within a minute of the restart Peter’s had brought themselves back into the tie with a goal from Shane O’ Neill with a classy finish.  The next fifteen minutes of the final was very cagy as no team carved out any major chances as defences were coming out on top anytime either side got near the opposition goal. With twenty minutes to go in this final ex League of Ireland star O’ Neill levelled the tie with a long range effort that flew into the top corner. Within minutes Avonmore took the lead again as striker Ryan Cahill finished into the net after a lovely pass from Cian O’ Hannain. The final fifteen minutes of the tie the home side pushed forward for the leveller and with six minutes to go Killian O’ Carroll broke onto a long ball before unleashing a unstoppable volley into the top corner. This meant penalties were on the cards to decide the winners.

Avonmore were first up as Cahill finished into the corner. It was then the turn of O’ Carroll who levelled the tie with a penalty that hit the back stanchion. Next up was Callum Pursey who fired his effort over. Peter’s took the lead for the fist time when O’ Neill used all his experience to finish neatly. Avonmore centre back Paddy Kennedy stepped up next to level the tie. Chad Ryan who came off the bench to put away his sides third penalty. The next two penalties were taken by the goalies. Zack Cullen who was put in goal for the shootout slotted his penalty. Peter’s final penalty was from goalie Mark O’ Sullivan who gave his side a two goa lead. Tuke took Avonmore’s final place kick, but this was put over the bar to ensure Peter’s brought home the Tommy Heffernan cup.

St Peter’s: 1 Mark O’ Sullivan, 2 Davey Barry, 3 Dan McCann, 4 Dan Kelly,5 Cormac Doyle, 6 Shane O’ Neill, 7 Zach Ryan, 8 Killian O’ Carroll, 9 Jamie Kelly,10 Tony Harris, 11 Jake Kane.

Subs Used: 16 Dillon Fitzpatrick, 15 Ryan Greene, 14 Des Kelly.

Avonmore: 1 Peter Kennedy 2 Ross Williams 3 Rhys Van Dijk, 4 Paddy Kennedy, 5 Shane Beever, 6 Mark Cullen, 7 Cian O Hannain, 8 Zach Cullen, 9 Ryan Cahill, 10 Callum Pursey, 19 Adam Tuke.

Subs Used:  15 Mario Gomes, 18 Todd Byrne, 14 Wes O’ Toole.

Referee: Dominic Lachaussee.