Bandon capture the Sean Williams U18 cup title with victory over Douglas Hall

Douglas Hall 0 

Bandon 2

Bandon captured the U18 Sean Williams Cup when they defeated Douglas Hall by two goals to nil in front of a very large attendance at Castletreasure last Wednesday night.

This cup is named after former College Corinthians player, coach and committee member the late Sean Williams, and it was a fitting tribute to him to see so many of his friends in the club at the final, however, more importantly his mother Joan, wife Julie and son Rory were there to present the trophy and medals after the game.

The game was scoreless at half time, however, both sides had decent chances to make the breakthrough.

Bandon's physical strength all over the pitch was very evident from the very start of the second half, but they had to wait until the 73rd minute to go in front 1-0 with a superb goal by Finn Bond-Smith. 

They increased their lead 2-0 in injury time when the hard-working Benjamin Nnotum scored and that started of scenes of wild celebrations from the Bandon bench and supporters.

It was Douglas who made the better start to the game with Darragh Foley and Peter Horan stretching the Bandon back four at every opportunity and when Foley showed a lovely piece of skill to breeze past his man in the ninth minute it took a fine save from Stash Koprowski to push his effort around the post. 

Foley was very prominent in every Hall attack and when he controlled a long ball from Conor Harte a few minutes later, his volleyed effort sailed inches over the bar. 

As the half matured Bandon began to grow more into the game with their influence midfield ace Humphrey Canty getting more on the ball and when he released the speedy Benjamin Nnotum on the half hour mark, the Hall keeper James O’Flaherty had to race off his line to make a brave save. 

The West Cork side finished the half stronger and had another decent opportunity to breaking the deadlock in the 43rd minute, again Nnotum pace gave the Hall trouble and when he made a strong run into the box he was denied again by the impressive O’Flaherty.

Bandon started the second half again on the front foot and when Canty peeled away from two Hall defenders in the 52nd minute, it took another fine save from O’Flaherty to tip his effort over the bar. 

They had another good opportunity ten minutes later when Ahmed Sallman got in behind the Hall back four, however, his powerful effort went narrowly wide. 

However they did deservedly go in front 1-0 in the 73rd minute, substitute Amaechi Nnaemeka showed great persistence down the right wing before he squared the ball to Nnotum and he then played a beautiful weighted pass for Finn Bond-Smith to curl his effort into the roof of the net. As the Hall pressed to try get the all important equaliser they were caught on the break in the 91st minute, when Nnotum was rewarded for all his hard work to score a superb solo goal that ensured the cup went to West Cork.

DOGLAS HALL: James O’Flaherty, Ben Whelan, Conor Harte, Larry Butler, Eoin Fitzpatrick, Sean Kelly, Micheal Morley, William Banks, Callum Carroll, Darragh Foley, Peter Horan.

Subs. Aidan Kennedy for Morley (64), Jack Sheehan for Carroll (77), Tiago Dos Santos-Cesar for Horan (80) BANDON: Stash Koprowski, Freddie Holland-McGrath, Kamil Skyrznski, Cormac O’Flynn, James O’Driscoll, Andrew Doyle, Humphrey Canty, Conor Aherne, Benjamin Nnotum, Finn Bond-Smith, Ahmed Sallman.

Subs: Amaechi Nnaemeka for Aherne (60), Kyle O’Connell for Sallman (83), Lucas Burns for Bond-Smith (90).

Referee: David Hickey.

Assistant Referees: William Wise, Neidoni Razvan.