*Lifford players celebrate as Paul Martin scores the winning penalty. Photograph: Joe Buckley
LIFFORD SEALED their place in the final of the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup in the most dramatic of fashion winning a penalty shootout at the death against Tulla Utd.
Lifford FC 0
Tulla Utd 0
Lifford win 5-4 on penalties
Venue: Frank Healy Park, Doora
Paul Martin converted the winning penalty to secure an Ennis derby in the Clare Cup final with Lifford FC advancing to play Avenue Utd in the decider which is scheduled to be held on May 27th.
It will be the first time since 1976 that Lifford’s first team will compete in the Cup final with Nathan Rezende, Chuks Obadeyi, John Maher, Fiachra Roche and Martin all hitting the target in the shootout to send them on their way. Goalkeeper Peadar O’Keeffe made what would be a vital save to deny Dara Ryan which ensured that Paul Martin’s spot kick would decide the winner.
When Raymond Bane struck the first penalty into the top right corner and Simon Kilker followed this up by pulling off an excellent save to deny Keith Shea, it looked as if the advantage was firmly with Tulla Utd. David O’Donnell saw his effort sail over the crossbar while Éanna Culloo, Jack McSweeney and Fiachra Hale all struck the net before Ryan’s effort was stopped.
Any exit from the Cup leaves a sting, particularly when it is on penalties. The wounds will cut that bit deeper for Tulla as they were the more threatening of the two sides when it came to getting a coveted goal. In sport, these opportunities must be taken and the East Clare side did not capitalise on the chances that fell their way. Crucially, the absence of their key player Daragh Corry allied with the absences of Sean Withycombe and Liam McInerney were keenly felt.
Both sides had goals ruled out in either half, Tulla’s Eoin Hassett on seven minutes as he was deemed offside and likewise substitute Hamed Kuku for Lifford with eighty three minutes on the clock.
Fresh from winning the Hugh Kelly Cup final, Lifford would have hoped to produce a stronger performance on this occasion. Their man of the match from that win, full-back Josh Ryan was substituted at half-time having picked up a yellow card in the opening half. This paved the way for Keith Shea’s introduction at the interval with Fiachra Roche moving to right back.
Shea came close to opening the deadlock on forty two minutes but his effort went to the wrong side of Kilker’s post. At the other end, Shea was called upon to clear an effort from Éanna Culloo off the line, the Tulla left winger caused problems throughout the day. He was also involved in one of their best chances, prompting a save from O’Keeffe the resulting scramble about to fall to the boot of Jack McSweeney and into the net were it not for the intervention of John Maher on seventy eight minutes.
But their best chance of breaking the deadlock fell to right midfielder Emmet Lynch with sixty four minutes played. Calls for a handball after Dan Withycombe did well to hold off Chuks Obadeyi and retain possession resulting in a cross which Lynch failed to dispatch to the net.
With time almost over, not one but two chances in the on swoop fell to Nathan Rezende, his first shot was saved by Simon Kilker, he managed to retrieve the rebound and take it past the Tulla goalkeeper but his second attempt went past the goal and so too did the danger ensuring extra time was required.
Lifford had the first chance of extra time through Fiachra Roche but four of the six goal chances in extra time fell the way of the East Clare side.
For the winners, despite losing both centre-halves to injury, they survived through the pressure put on them. Their best players on the day included John Maher, Mattie Davenport, Nathan Rezende were most effective with Gary McNaboe doing well in the opening half.
Tulla’s standout performers were Éanna Culloo, Dara Ryan and Dan Withycombe.
Lifford FC: Peadar O’Keeffe; Josh Ryan, John Allan, Johnson Mununkunu, John Maher; Gary McNaboe, Fiachra Roche; Paul Martin, Nathan Rezende, Mattie Davenport, Eddie Killeen
Subs: Keith Shea for Ryan (HT), Chuks Obadeyi for McNaboe (57), Eoin Monaghan for Allen (60) (inj), Hamed Kuku for Mununkunu (65) (inj), Niall Guinane for Killeen (76).
Tulla Utd: Simon Kilker; Fiachra Hale, Ray Bane, Dara Ryan, Adam McNamara; Jack McSweeney, Emmet Lynch, Darragh Murphy, Éanna Culloo, Dan Withycombe, Eoin Hassett.
Subs: John Brigdale for Lynch (72), David O’Donnell for Murphy (86), Colm McInerney for Hassett (96), Craig McNamara for Withycombe (104) (inj).
Referee: Paudie Hayes,
