Penalty drama Cork Youth League beat Limerick in Munster final
Cian O'Callaghan, Cork Youth League, celebrates his goal with Eoin Looney, Ronan Murray and Scott Busteed against Limerick District League. Picture Dan Linehan
The Cork Youth League were crowned Munster Inter-League Champions when they beat Limerick District League at Carrig Park in Fermoy.
The sides couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes and 20 minutes of extra time with the score 2-2. However, goalkeeper Zack Lynch-Healy was the hero for the Cork team, as he saved two penalties in the shootout for his side to go on to win the trophy 3-2.
The game was level 1-1 at halftime with Cork taking the lead in the sixth minute from the head of Cian O’Callaghan. Limerick equalised through Joseph Murphy ten minutes later.
Limerick went ahead in the 78th minute through sub Michael Hanly, but Cork levelled the game five minutes later when substitute Alex Bollard scored from close range.
After 20 minutes of extra time, we went to a penalty shootout. Cork’s Rian Thornhill, Darragh Sheehan and Ben Fitzgerald all converted their spot kicks and Lynch-Healy made two big saves to keep the trophy in the Rebel County for the second year in a row.
Cork got off to the best possible start of the game and were one up after only five minutes. Limerick’s keeper Samual Casey had to stretch to save from Cork’s JJ Foley, however, Cian O’Callaghan was on hand at the back post to head home the resulting Warren O’Mahony corner.
Limerick responded well after conceding the early goal and were overrunning the Cork side in the middle of the park. They levelled the game 1-1 in the 16th minute when the impressive Joseph Murphy struck his free kick high into the Cork net.
Limerick were now well on top and came close to taking the lead in the 31st minute when Chad Molloy's powerful effort flashed across the face of the goal. Cork finished the half strong and Casey had to be alert in the 42nd minute to make a smart save from Ronan Murray.
The hosts made a bright start to the second half and came close to regaining the lead in the 51st minute.
O’Mahony found O’Callaghan with an inch-perfect pass, but his effort just went the wrong side of the post. Cork now had their tails up and were controlling the tempo of the game and when O’Mahony played in Foley, Casey had to rush off his line to make a brave save at his feet.
However, the Limerick boys took the lead against the run of play in the 78th minute, after a goalmouth scramble, Michael Hanly pounced on a loose ball and fired his powerful effort past Lynch-Healy.
To be fair, Cork never panicked and equalised in the 83rd minute when Alex Bollard was quick to reach a loose ball to score from close range.
Cork had a glorious chance to retake the lead in the 96th minute when Rian Thornhill's powerful effort was pushed around the post by Casey. In the second half of extra time Lynch-Healy was called into action in the 105th minute to make a big save from Murphy from close range.
The game finished 2-2 and went to a penalty shootout to decide the winner, which Cork won 3-2.
Zack Lynch-Healy, Daniel Brennan, Liam Lynch, Scott Busteed, Cian O’Callaghan, Ronan Murray, Eoin Looney, Ben Fitzgerald, JJ Foley, Warren O’Mahony, Mathew Kiernan.
Alex Bollard for Looney (70), Rian Thornhill for Foley (70), Olan Taaffe for O’Mahony (79), Craig Nolan for Murray (79), Darragh Sheehan for Brennan (79).
Samual Casey, Jack Croke, Jack Meaney, Rory Hanly. Cian O’hAodha, Oisin Healy, Chad Molloy, Michael Omojoefodun, Cathal McNamara, Joseph Murphy, Zac McInerey.
Michael Hanly for Omojoefodun (64), Ben Kiely for Molloy (70), Bryan Mambouana for McInerey (82).
Michael Corrigan (South Tipperary).
John Maguire and Michael Chapman (South Tipperary).
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