AUL: Waterloo hit Mogeely for five goals to reach County Cup final

Waterloo 5 Mogeely A 1

Scott Shine scored a hat-trick as Waterloo came from behind before scorching into the County Cup final after a victory over Mogeely A at Whitechurch.

The League 1 side imposed their game on their League 2 opponents from the very off as Jack O’Keeffe’s low cross broke for Scot Shine before he rifled narrowly wide.

And when Jack O’Keeffe collected from Ronan O’Brien, he side-stepped his marker before drilling wide from a narrow angle.

A forceful effort then from Liam O’Leary saw Oran Sweetnam spread himself to save with his feet.

The Mogeely keeper had hardly time to dust himself down when he was called upon once again – this time to get his body behind a blistering effort from O’Leary.

Waterloo were well on top now in these early stages and when Shane O’Shea picked out Scott Shine with his pass, the Loo winger cut inside this marker before forcing Sweetnam to parry out for a corner from his fizzing effort. 

Jack O’Keeffe delivered a tempting cross into the box which forced Matthew Cotter Sweeny to concede a corner.

Waterloo continued on the front-foot and after Scott Shine rifled wide with a low effort, Sweetnam was forced into action again when he had to spread himself to save from Liam O’Leary following good work from Jack O’Keeffe.

But, against the run of play, Mogeely got their noses in front when Dion Drake unleashed a rifling effort that dipped under the bar to fire the East Cork side in front on 20 minutes.

Play soon shifted to the other end again and when Liam O’Leary collected from a short corner, he forced Sweetnam to parry out for another corner from his low effort.

A dinking delivery from Scott Shine looked like it was heading to reach Ronan O’Brien in space behind the Mogeely rear-guard, but a sharp Sweetnam came off his line, quick enough to make a crucial interception.

Scott Shine then came so close when his effort from outside the box screamed agonisingly wide of the post.

But, it was all square once again on the stroke of half-time when Scott Shine controlled from Jack O’Keeffe’s assist before cracking an unstoppable effort into the net from a narrow angle.

With just minutes into the second period, Waterloo won a corner on the right and from Ronan O’Brien’s delivery, a clearance arrived for Jack O’Keeffe who rifled an effort over from outside the box.

Then, Liam O’Leary was unlucky to see his goal-bound strike graze off Sweeny to go inches wide for a corner.

From the ensuing set-piece, Lorcan Clinton rose unattended to head narrowly over.

A neat Waterloo move developed after that when Ronan O’Brien cushioned a ball on for Scott Shine who helped on to Jack O’Keeffe – he picked out the supporting Ronan O’Brien who forced Sweetnam stretch to collect from his low effort.

Waterloo went in front when after Sweetnam parried from an effort, Fionn Hall was on hand to steer home from close range on 62.

The Loo continued to control the contest and as Liam O’Leary swivelled before striking straight at Sweetnam, Lorcan Clinton headed into the waiting arms of the Mogeely keeper soon after.

A high delivery from Matthew Cotter Sweeney came for Jonathon Clifford, but his headed effort never really bothered O’Regan too much.

Mogeely had a narrow escape soon after when Ronan O’Brien’s effort went under Sweetnam’s body, but it came back off the butt of the upright before arriving safely into the arms of the Mogeely keeper.

But, it was business as usual with the Loo forcing the issue once again – Jack O’Keeffe’s turn-and-strike flew wide before Ronan O’Brien rifled over until the inevitable happened again – David Cremin threaded a sumptuous through ball for the available Scott Shine who used immense determination before forcing over the line on 79 minutes.

And when Oran Sweetnam grabbed hold of possession at the second time of asking from Jack O’Keeffe’s effort.

Scott Shine set Ronan O’Brien up to drill home from outside the box on 82 minutes before Scott Shine helped home number five to complete his hat-trick near the end.

WATERLOO: Conor O’Regan, Shane O’Shea, Fionn Hall, Lorcan Clinton, Jack Homan, Liam O’Leary, Dylan Murphy, Jack O’Keeffe, Ronan O’Brien, Scott Shine, Alan Shine.

Subs: David Cremin for Dylan Murphy (64), Shane Aherne for Jack O’Keeffe (80), Luke Leahy for Shane O’Shea (83), Tom Flaherty for Ronan O’Brien (83), Zac Hickey for Alan Shine (83).

MOGEELY: Oran Sweetnam, Matthew Cotter Sweeny, Karol Michniewicz, Colm Beausang, James McConnell, Rory Black, Dion Drake, Rory Murphy, Jonathon Clifford, Aidan McNamee, Ronan McCarthy.

Sub: Luke Deane for Colm Beausang (75).

Referee: Alan McDonagh.