*Photograph: Joe Buckley
Amidst a showdown of almost four seasons, fittingly it was the man of all seasons Eoin Hayes that popped up for a late winner to cement Newmarket Celtic’s historic 20th Clare Cup crown over newcomers Tulla United in Frank Healy Park in Doora.
Newmarket Celtic 1
Tulla United 0
Venue: Frank Healy Park, Doora
In contrast to the infamous Cromwellian quote about the Burren, there was more than enough rain to drown everyone in attendance in an incessant first half, only to require sunscreen by the final whistle as Newmarket utilised all their experience to inch over the line.
And it was a game of inches, actually re-emphasised by that sole goal that stemmed from a great chance for Tulla only to end up in the opposite net only seconds later.
A Jashar Aliu corner was eventually worked into the box where a Dan Withycombe shot was blocked, only to see Dean Hegarty immediately spray a delivery from his own half to substitute Cian McDonough in the right corner to cross to the back post where fellow replacement Hayes inevitable made no mistake with a header to the left corner of Simon Kilker’s net.
It was the only time that a supremely disciplined Tulla side were caught out of position and it would come with the ultimate cost of denying the East Clare side a fairytale finish to a hugely encouraging season.
Led by the talismanic Daragh Corry once more, Mike Moloney’s side did have their chances to upset the odds and carve their own names on the cup for the very first time. Crucially however, on a day when one felt that they needed to take every goal sighting that came their way, Tulla failed to grasp their chances and would receive a harsh lesson as a result.
They actually tested Shane Cusack’s reflexes after only two minutes when the ever-impressive Adam Kilker combined with Eanna Culloo on the left wing to centre for Ayoub Aguerram to flick towards goal.
However, their biggest opening came right on the stroke of half-time when a Simon Kilker kick-out was headed on by Corry and when the last defender slipped, Dan Withycombe was clean through but didn’t catch the shot with any venom and a relieved Shane Cusack welcomingly took a 0-0 stalemate into the break.
Newmarket had their moments too amidst a rain-soaked opening period, with Tadhg Noonan having a shot blocked by a defender in the 18th minute while he would turn provider for Dean Hegarty to unleash a powerful effort that goalkeeper Kilker could only parry before grabbing it at the second attempt in the 34th minute.
Newmarket’s front pair would combine in similar fashion ten minutes later, this time Noonan holding up possession from a Shane Cusack clearance to tee up Hegarty to drive a shot just wide of the left post.
Tulla re-emerged with renewed vigour but despite a teasing cross from Eanna Culloo in their initial attack that just flashed across goal, the pendulum incrementally veered towards a more wily Newmarket who received a timely jolt when their most decorated player Eoin Hayes was sprung from the bench just before the hour mark.
In truth, Celtic should have been a goal up by that stage as a Tadhg Noonan interception at halfway put Nathan Boaventura through on goal to first be superbly denied by Simon Kilker before agonisingly clearing the crossbar with the rebound.
Eoin Hayes made his presence felt by testing Kilker himself in the 67th minute after cutting in from the right wing.
However, Tulla’s best chance of a second half breakthrough would come eight minutes later when an Ayoub Aguerram delivery was defected up off a defender and was just missed by the outstretched Daragh Corry at the back post.
Tulla were still pushing for an elusive winner in the 84th minute when Newmarket survived an initial scare from a corner, only to ruthlessly finish up the other end within seconds to edge 1-0 in front.
Tulla upped the ante but found superb defensive anchors Anthony Dabrynets and captain Harvey Cullinan in obstinate mood to keep out Corry and an injury-time Diarmuid Molloy free to soar to their first Clare Cup title in five years.
Cullinan fittingly collected the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup and the Man of the Match award while for the evergreen goalscoring hero Eoin Hayes it was a record-equalling tenth winners medal.
Newmarket Celtic
20: Shane Cusack
2: Ian Collins
5: Anthony Dabrynets
4: Harvey Cullinan
3: Cathal Cullinan
7: Aaron Rudd
6: Jack Kelly
8: Conor McDaid
11: Nathan Boaventura
10: Dean Hegarty
9: Tadgh Noonan
Subs
12: Eoin Hayes for Boaventura (57)
13: Cian McDonough for McDaid (57)
16: Kieran Hackett for Noonan (74)
15: Ronan McCormack for Kelly (94)
Tulla United
20: Simon Kilker
2: Fiachra Hale
4: Diarmuid Molloy
5: Dara Ryan
3: Adam McNamara
7: Eanna Culloo
6: Adam Kilker
8: Ayoub Aguerram
11: Sean Withycombe
9: Daragh Corry
10: Dan Withycombe
Subs
17: Callum Casey for S. Withycombe (66)
14: Jashar Aliu for Aguerram (77)
12: Fionn Ryan for Hale (77)
18: Frankie O’Sullivan for Culloo (89)
Referee: Brian Punch
