Kyle O'Callaghan treble fires Cathedral Celtic past Springfield in AOH Cup upset

Cathedral Celtic 4 Springfield 2 (aet)

Kyle O’Callaghan grabbed a hat-trick in extra-time as League 2 side Cathedral Celtic caused a cup upset against Premier A side Springfield in AOH Cup quarter-final at the Fairfield.

It was a well-deserved victory for the League 1 side, who could have had more goals to their credit had they not squandered lots of chances, especially in the first period.

But, the game itself was a cracking cup tie that opened up with gusto as Kyle Cummins crossed for Kallum Hacket who headed straight at Kristian O’Sullivan. At the other end, a cross from Scott O’Callaghan found Kyle O’Callaghan to head into the arms of Cormac Brennan.

A free kick from Scott O’Callaghan reached Ivan Skillington who helped on to Kyle O’Callaghan and with his back to goal, his looping header arrived for Brennan who was in the right place to collect.

Cathedral were having the upper hand at this point and from Morgan O’Connor’s high delivery into the danger area, the ball broke for Michael Blake who drilled over from outside the box.

At the other end, a dangerous cross from Theo Foley came across the box, but Kallum Hackett failed to get a shot away with any kind of conviction.

Cathedral then came so close when from Eoin O’Connell’s cross Ivan Skillington was unlucky to see his thumping header flash agonisingly wide of the upright.

The ice was broken on 16 minutes when Jonathon O’Sullivan sent his blistering effort from a free kick, crashing into the net for what was a wonderful opener.

A chance fell to Cathedral almost immediately afterwards when Kyle O’Callaghan worked the ball on to Scott O’Callaghan who was in a favourable position, but he skewed wide of the far post before Cormac Brennan was forced to get down promptly to turn Jonathon O’Sullivan’s effort from a free kick ‘round the post.

From the ensuing corner, Michael Blake brought a point-blank save from Brennan who was forced to push over to concede another corner.

Then, from a throw, Eoin O’Connell took a return pass from Ivan Skillington before drilling a fine effort narrowly wide from an acute angle.

Cathedral continued on the front-foot and when Kyle O’Callaghan collected from Dale Donoghue, he forced Cormac Brennan to collect at the second time of asking from his stinging effort.

The final action in the first 45 that saw Cathedral on top was Scott O’Callaghan collecting from Michael Blake before dragging his effort wide of the target.

After a lively start to the second period, Springers had a half-chance, but from Kallum Hackett’s cross, Theo Foley could not get a vital touch while in a favourable position inside the box.

But, it was all square again when Kyle Cummins did so well to win the ball back against the odds before crossing for the unmarked Donnacha Leahy to steer home and restore parity once again on 58 minutes.

But as both sides failed to break the deadlock at 1-1, the game was forced into extra time and what an explosive period in the game, this was.

After Diab Seck was fouled inside the box, Springfield were awarded a penalty and it was Jack O’Shea who fired them in front after slamming to the right of Kristian O’Sullivan on 96.

But, three minutes later, it was all square again when Kyle O’Callaghan swivelled before sending an unstoppable effort nestling in the net to make it honours even again at 2-2.

Then, with just three minutes into the second period of extra time, Kyle O’Callaghan got his second when from Jonathon O’Sullivan’s delivery from a corner, he rose to send a thumping header crashing into the net.

Kyle O’Callaghan then completed his hat-trick in style when his turn and strike outside the box, dipped over Brennan to make it 4-2 in the end.

CATHEDRAL CELTIC: Kristian O’Sullivan, Eoin O’Connell, Denis McCarthy, Luke O’Mahony, Morgan O’Connor, Johnnie O’Sullivan, Ivan Skillington, Scott O’Callaghan, Kyle O’Callaghan, Michael Blake and Dale O’Donoghue.

Subs: Corey Ryan for Michael Blake (half-time), Evan Leahy for Denis McCarthy (72), Sean O’Mahony for Ivan Skillington (88), Ross Kiely for Dale Donoghue (91), Robbie Leahy for Eoin O’Connell (112).

SPRINGFIELD: Cormac Brennan, Padraig Kearney, Alan Kelly, Brian Maher, Johah Walsh, Caylum Gooney, Josh Furmedge, Kallum Hackett, Kyle Cummins, Theo Foley and Donnacha Leahy.

Subs: Leon Keating for Padraig Kearney (54), Diab Seck for Josh Furmedge (54), Jack O’Shea for Donnacha Leahy (59), Cian O’Rourke for Kallum Hackett (113).

Referee: Alan McDonagh.