Mallow capture Tom O'Callaghan Cup title after extra time win over Midleton in thrilling tie
Youth Soccer: Tom O’Callaghan U17 winners Mallow United at Rockmount Park.
Mallow United are the U17 Tom O’Callaghan champions after they beat Midleton after extra time at Rockmount Park last Saturday.
It was the Magpies who took the lead when Hugh O’Loingsigh hit the back of the net in the 17th minute. Mallow equalised 1-1 in the 27th minute when their captain Christopher Jones turned in a superb pass from Bobby O’Sullivan.
Mallow took the lead when Dara O’Donoghue scored in the 73rd minute after good work by Conor Sheehan. However, the Magpies equalised through Michael Bertocchi to bring the cup tie into extra time.
The sides still couldn’t be separated in the first period of extra time. However, substitute Devine Ogbuji headed home Darragh O’Connor’s cross deep into injury time for Mallow to win 3-2.
Mallow United manager Derek Madden was delighted with his team’s victory that capped off a great season for everyone involved with their group.
“Obviously, I am a delighted, as I knew in advance that this game would go down to the wire,” Derek said.
“So, I am really pleased and proud of the full squad’s effort and it shows the teamwork and spirit that was in the team all year. I want to acknowledge the support and hard work received from coaches Barry Doyle and Steve Jones throughout the season.
“We are so happy to win this trophy, especially when we felt that we had a good league campaign, but did not quite do ourselves justice.
"The club is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year so it’s fantastic to win in such a dramatic way to mark that occasion."
Midleton manager Fergus Groatke was disappointed after the game, but praised his team’s effort and congratulated Mallow.
"We are disappointed to lose the game. However, I think Mallow deserved the game at the end.
"We won our league so it’s a positive season for us overall."
Reilly O’Connor, Bobby O’Sullivan, Ronan O’Sullivan, Tadgh Hayes, Eoghan Crowley, Aaron Stokes, Christopher Jones, Cormac Madden, Godime Eghosa Ehiosun, Dara Donoghue.
Robert Stokes for Ehiosun (69), Devine Ogbuji for O’Donoghue (83), Darragh O’Connor for Stokes (95).
Ian Lambe, Sean McLoughlin, Aaron Murphy, Ben Crowley, Daniel Guiney, Cathal Doyle, Hugh O’Loinsigh, Sean Guiney, Ciaran O’Brien, Michael Bertocchi, Conor O’Brien.
Braden Dunlea for C O’Brien (57), Charlie McCarthy for S Guiney (63), Nikolai Von-Ascheraden for McLoughlin (76).
Patrick O’Keeffe.
Assistant Referee’s: Hugh Shields, Lucy O’Sullivan.
Elsewhere on Saturday Eoin English was the Park United hero as his goal early in extra time was enough to beat Macroom to lift the U18 League 2 title after their playoff game at Leeds Park.
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