MSL soccer: Ringmahon Rangers beat Carrigaline in Keane Cup final

Ringmahon Rangers 3

Carrigaline United 0

RINGMAHON RANGERS added the Keane Cup to their growing trophy cabinet after goals from Jamie O’Sullivan, Evan Galvin, and Adam O’Callaghan helped them beat Carrigaline United 3-0 at Turner’s Cross on Thursday.

There was no repeat of the 2-2 draw between the two teams in the league last October, as it was a night of conservative play by two groups of players desperate to bring a trophy home before the Christmas break.

For Ringmahon, it was a chance to add a second piece of silverware to their collection in 2023 after they won the Beamish Stout Senior Cup last season.

As for Carrigaline United, it was an opportunity for revenge as they were the beaten finalists last May at Turner’s Cross.

Clear-cut chances were minimal on a bitterly cold evening that came to life when Cameron Harlson shot just wide at the St Anne’s end. Killian Murphy tried to respond for Carrigaline and an audacious attempt by the midfielder went out for a goal-kick.

Most of the play took place around the centre circle and the close control of Anthony McAlavey helped Ringmahon come out on top in the battle for possession.

He was the engine in the middle of the park; the playmaker supplied balls to a forward line containing Harlson, Jack Cairns, and Galvin.

When it appeared that McAlavey had played the perfect pass to Cairns, Killian Spillane slid in and stopped the striker.

The only good move Carrigaline United put together during this spell was a corner, which Cairns got underneath to clear.

Ringmahon kept going and an Adam Delurey corner was cleared by Andrew Cronin. 

Roy Kenny then twisted into space on the edge of the Carrigaline area and his shot went out for a goal-kick in the 21st minute.

Ringmahon's pressure paid off when O’Sullivan found himself in space and a right-footed attempt hit the inside of the post and went in.

Carrigaline tried to respond with a delivery to Cronin, but the striker had no room inside the area. That was followed by a Ryan O’Regan free going out for a corner in the final seconds of the first half, and the set-piece was headed narrowly over by Spillane.

The game restarted with O’Sullivan swinging a leg at the ball and forcing a reactionary save from Carrigaline keeper Callan Scully.

Carrigaline were disciplined in their push for an equaliser, and they were repeatedly denied by the tiniest of margins.

Twice they were scrambling inside the penalty area, and the bounce of the ball stopped a clear-cut chance being created.

As the teams regrouped, Spillane capitalised on a moment of silence in Turner’s Cross when a tame shot by the defender hit the crossbar before falling into the hands of Ringmahon keeper Shane Hallahan.

Ringmahon came through Carrigaline’s push and a well-worked counter-attack set up McAlavey.  His side-footed attempt was palmed away by Scully and Galvin fired the loose ball home.

The second goal took the sting out of the game and Ringmahon’s substitutes helped them run down the clock.

Corey Galvin, a player with League of Ireland experience after spells with Cork City and Waterford, was one of those who came on and took control during the final 10 minutes.

The trophy was secured with a close-range finish from O’Callaghan in injury-time which sent the Keane Cup to Ringmahon Park.

The Mahon side will go into the new year competing on several fronts, including the Donie Forde Trophy and the FAI Intermediate Cup.

RINGMAHON RANGERS: Shane Hallahan; Philip Keane, Adam Delurey, Christopher McCarthy, Anthony Whitehead, Roy Kenny, Cameron Harlson, Jamie O’Sullivan, Jack Cairns, Anthony McAlavey, Evan Galvin.

Subs: Alan Greaney for Cairns (76); Corey Galvin for Harlson (76), Adam O’Callaghan for Evan Galvin (81), Dean Swords for McAlavey (90).

CARRIGALINE UNITED: Callan Scully; Shane Dawson, Darragh Buckley, Kalen Spillane, Cian McCarthy, Jamie Moore, Richard Duggan, Killian Murphy, Andrew Cronin, Stephen D’Arcy, Ryan O’Regan.

Subs: Conor Kingston for Dawson (HT); Adam Costello for D’Arcy (70), Jason Ring for Duggan (78), McCarthy for Moore (78), Rob Walker for Kingston (90).

Referee: Declan Fogarty