Midleton U17s beaten by Belvedere in FAI U17 Cup final
Belvedere's Blake Robinson Hogan turns to celebrate the third goal against Midleton during the FAI U17 National Cup final at Turner's Cross. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Midleton suffered heartbreak when they went down to Dublin outfit Belvedere in the FAI U17 Cup final in front of a large attendance at a sunny Turner’s Cross.
Belvedere went two up in the opening 16 minutes through Dara Brennan and Jack Higgins. However, Midleton did pull a goal back in the 19th minute courtesy of Max Murphy.
In an evenly contested second half, Belvedere scored in the final minutes of the game with a Blake Robinson-Horgan effort and that was enough to seal the deal.
However, to give Midleton credit they battled away to the very end of the game.
The visitors made a dream start to the game and took an early lead when a Dara Brennan free kick from the right flank flew into the left corner of the net after only four minutes.
Midleton had a half chance five minutes later, when Max Murphy got his head to a Sean Óg Murphy corner, however, his effort sailed narrowly wide.
James Ryan had a glorious chance to increase Belvedere’s lead in the 14th minute, he made a great run into the box but his effort just went the wrong side of the post.
They did take a 2-0 lead two minutes later. Midleton keeper Colm Noonan made a fine stop to deny James Ryan, however, Jack Higgins was on hand to smash home the loose ball from close range.
The Magpies pulled a goal back in the 19th minute, Murphy pounced on a loose from a Ben Fitzgerald header across the box to score from close range.
Two minutes later, Rian Thornhill found a pocket of space from outside the box and he forced a fine save from Sean Burke. Midleton settled more into the game and could have levelled the game in the 36th minute, James O’Meara cut in from the right wing, but his effort was pushed around the post by Burke.
Midleton started the second half on the front foot and Burke in the Belvedere goal did well to punch Cillian Scanlon's in-swinging cross away.
Noonan came to Midleton’s rescue five minutes later when he palmed away an effort by Jack Ryan.
The Magpies had another great opportunity in the 62nd minute when O’Meara raced down the right wing, but Burke raced off his line to punch his effort away from danger.
Murphy was causing the Dublin side all sorts of problems from set pieces and he came close to levelling in the 73rd minute when he got his head to a Scanlon free.
Liam Norris made a great run down the right wing for Belvedere in the 83rd minute and when he cut the ball was taken off his toe by Murphy for a corner. Lewis Bruton found Blake Robinson-Horgan from that corner at the back post and he steered the ball home to lead 3-1.
Colm Noonan, Dara Birdthistle, Liam Lynch, Max Murphy, Luke McDonnell, Ben Fitzgerald, Sean Óg Murphy, Cillian Scanlon, Rian Thornhill, Alex McSweeney, James O’Meara.
Owen Noonan for Thornhill (51), Charlie McCarthy for Scanlon (76), Alex Murphy for O’Meara (83).
Sean Burke, Evan Fulham, Jamie Brennan, Rudy Flood, Bobby Doyle, Lewis Bruton, Blake Robinson-Horgan, Jack Higgins, James Ryan, Jack Ryan, Senan Finn.
Liam Norris for Jack Ryan (h-t), Charlie Gordon for James Ryan (82), Logan Moloney for Blake-Robinson (86), Harry Giffney for James Ryan (88), Richard Donnelly for Doyle (88).
Shane O’Donoghue (Limerick).
Oisin Walsh (Mayo), Eoghan McAuliffe (Wexford).
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