MSL soccer: Ringmahon Rangers A complete double with John Hayes Trophy win

Ringmahon Rangers A 2

Cobh Wanderers 0

Ringmahon Rangers A completed a league and John Hayes Trophy double when they defeated Cobh Wanderers in the final of the latter at Ringmahon Park on Thursday.

The recently-crowned Beamish Stout Junior Second Division champions — their second league title in a row — will join Cobh in the first division next season, and they delivered a performance that would indicate that they will no be out of place in the higher division.

In a season that has seen Ringmahon's Munster Senior League teams claim seven trophies, with the possibility of one more to come — their senior team will face Avondale United in the final of the Beamish Cup on Wednesday — winning the John Hayes Trophy will hold a special place within the club, it being named in honour of one Ringmahon's  greatest servants who was also a member of the Munster Senior League’s management committee.

Ringmahon have only won this trophy once — in 2016 — and members of that winning side, James Delany, Chris O’Connell, David O’Leary, and Alex Aherne were part of the class of 2025, with James McGinty, another member of the 2016 side, part of the current management set-up.

The host club were worthy winners with a goal in each half sealing their victory — the insurance effort coming late on.

They began the game in impressive fashion, seeking to break down their opponents by attacking the flanks where Luke O’Leary and Ryan Keating were making inroads.

Despite enjoying a good deal of early possession, Ringmahon’s first real attempt on goal didn’t arrive until 16 minutes in when O’Leary sent Adam O’Callaghan free on the left, but his shot from a tight angle inside the penalty area went into the side-netting.

Cobh struggled to get a foothold in the game, but their goal was rarely threatened in those early exchanges, though keeper Cormac Brennan made a routine save from an Aaron Collins strike from the edge of the box.

Cobh did have an attempt on goal on 36 minutes after good work by Jack McCarthy to keep possession, despite pressure from a couple of Ringmahon defenders, saw him get a shot off that flew wide.

Three minutes later Ringmahon jumped in front when a hopeful ball forward was chased down by a Cobh defender.

Keating refused to give up the ghost and his blistering pace saw him win possession on the right flank when he was second favourite to do so.

He knocked the ball into the penalty area for O’Leary who turned down the chance the hit it first time, and almost lost the opportunity, but he kept his cool to get his shot away and score from 12 yards.

Ringmahon were motoring now and went close to doubling their lead shortly before half-time. Keating kept his eye on a dropping ball over the top towards the edge of the penalty area and, holding off his marker got a shot off on the left side of the box which needed a save from Brennan.

Cobh had more energy about them in the second half, but Ringmahon had the first chance when Jayden O’Leary had a shot from outside the box blocked after good build-up play.

Cobh had a lot more of the ball in this period, but with very little end product to show for it, and the game became stretched as both sides found pockets of space.

Ringmahon still carried the greater goal threat, though, and Ben Heas had a shot saved for a corner following good play by Keating and Luke O’Leary in the build-up.

The latter two combined again for the second goal; O’Leary turning provider on this occasion when he broke on the right before turning the ball towards Keating who drilled it home with four minutes remaining.

That was game set and match and Collins almost made it 3-0 in the final minute when his free kick from just outside the penalty area came back off the crossbar.

It mattered none, though, as soon afterwards Mark O’Connell’s final whistle sparked massive celebrations after the club claimed their second MSL trophy in less four days following on from their premier side’s Junior Super Cup win over Crosshaven the previous Monday. The junior premier side missed the chance to make it three when they lost 1-0 to holders and local rivals Avondale United in the final of the Donal Linehan Trophy on Friday, though the seniors made amends on Saturday when they won the O'Connell Cup, beating College Corinthians 2-1 in the final.

COBH WANDERERS: Cormac Brennan, Conor Corcoran, Niall Abbott, Joseph Kelleher, George Kelly, Ben Kelleher, Tom Noonan, Jeffrey McCarthy, Aaron Heelan, Jack McCarthy, Luqman Kassim.

Subs: Oisin Cronin for Noonan (63), Kieran Long for Corcoran (70), Tom Ring for McCarthy (74).

RINGMAHON RANGERS A: John Lynch, Jack O’Riordan, Shane O’Herlihy, Eoin Murphy, Aaron Collins, Jayden O’Leary, Luke O’Leary, Ben Heas, Adam O’Callaghan, James Delany, Ryan Keating.

Subs: Dara Walsh for O’Callaghan (34), Alex Aherne for Delany (69), Linus Gielinki for Heas (82), Ian Kenneally for Keating (90).

Referee: Mark O’Connell, assistants, Tomas Coughlan, Alan McDonagh.