*Lifford’s Fiachra Roche in action. Photograph: Joe Buckley
QUALIFYING for a first Clare Cup final since 1976 and setting up a town derby in the decider brings a sense of progression for Lifford FC and manager Adrian Walsh.
That progression may have not been totally evident with their display in the semi-final win against Tulla Utd where they had to rely on a Paul Martin penalty in the shootout to send them through to the final.
“It’s a lottery, the game from the first half had extra time and penalties written all over it. In terms of quality from our own point of view, it was pretty poor and probably the worst we’ve played all season to be honest about it. We’re thrilled with the result, getting over the line and into the final but performance wise we’re disappointed,” Walsh reflected.
Of the two sides, Tulla Utd looked more likely to score from open play, he acknowledged. “They did in general play. Between ourselves and Tulla both this season and halfway through last season when I came in, it’s always been one goal between us, we knew coming into the game that it was going to be sticky, we’ll go back and review the footage of the performance, we’ll come back stronger and get back training to see where we go from there”.
They lost both centre-halves to injury in the semi-final with John Allan now a major doubt for the May 27th meeting with Avenue Utd. “he tore his hamstring, we’re disappointed with that but we’ve a good squad and the lads that came in stepped up to the plate, we finished with four or five eighteen and nineteen year olds on the field so the future is strong”.
Fresh from defeating Shannon Town Utd in the Hugh Kelly Cup Final, Lifford are moving in the right direction, Adrian believed. “We’ve won the League Cup final and we’re in the Clare Cup final in the town derby, that is what you want”.
Undoubtedly there will be a sense of familiarity with the meeting of two Ennis clubs in the Cup final. “All the guys socialise together, Ennis is a small spot so they all know each other, the management teams are the same, there’s always a bit of fire and bite in a town derby, we caught them on the hop at the start of the season but then they beat us in the FAI and the league narrowly, it’s going to be a great spectacle, for all the hard work you put in over the year this is where you want to be playing and the days you want to be playing in”.
