Rovers return to the final as cup dream lives on

This week Kentstown Rovers will be preparing for Saturday's NEFL Challenge Cup final at the MDL, 5pm against Chord Celtic and in their camp they will have a man who knows more than most about cup finals and what's needed to prepare for them. That man is Noel Walsh. He feels his team have a real chance.

The affable, ever cheerful joint manager of Kentstown Rovers wore a broader smile than usual at about 9.45pm on Thursday night last as he stood on the astro pitch at the MDL and reflected on how his Div 1 side had just defeated Premier outfit Bellurgan United 1-0 to secure a place in the 2021 Challenge Cup decider.

The winning, and only, goal arrived in the opening seconds of the contest. In their first attack Kentstown Rovers moved the ball down the right, Cillien Corcoran whipped the ball into the Bellurgan goalmouth. In trying to clear Bellurgan defender Barry Dunne inadvertingly knocked the ball into his own net.

Kentstown played controlled, measured football for the most part and created half chances for the likes of David Bowens and Keith Walsh on a bitterly cold night, but clear-cut scoring opportunities were as scarce as sunbeds at the MDL venue. Derek Ratcliffe did find the net for the winners after the break, but the 'goal' was rightly ruled offside.

Strong and resolute in defence, Rovers held out, although they were fortunate just before the interval when Bellurgan player/manager Alan Connor had a wonderful opportunity. A cross came into the Rovers box from Eoin Armstrong but Connor, a few metres out, headed at alert Kentstown goalkeeper Ross Walsh. It was a real chance.

Kentstown had excellent performances all over the pitch. They were hard-working and comfortable in their quick-passing game and they withstood considerable pressure to win. It was a classic team display. One for all, all for one. They were without central defender Colin Lynch but Shane Gargan and James Friery formed a strong partnership manning the battlements. Similiar resilience will be needed to hold out Chord next Saturday. The Drogheda side have already this season twice defeated Kentstown in the league and the 40th Anniversary Cup.

Noel Walsh is a Rovers man through and through. He has spent years as an underage coach, helping young players fulfil their potential and now he manages the first team with Stephen Laverty, another true blue clubman who has done much to ensure Kentstown Rovers are back in contention for cup success.

Certainly there are very few people who know better than Walsh about how to prepare for cup final day because he's been there, done that in his job as kit manager for Dundalk FC; a position he has held for a decade now. And what a decade it has been for the Lilywhites as they claimed a series of league and cup titles and chalked up some notable performances in Europe as well.

"The last FAI Cup final (when St Pat's defeated Bohs in a penalty shoot-out) was the first one I hadn't been involved for about seven years, we had six cup finals in a row," he added.

Two years ago Kentstown also made it to the Challenge Cup final where they lost 0-2 to Trim Celtic, both goals scored by Colm Carney and both from the penalty spot.

As part of their preparations all involved with Kentstown Rovers went for a pre-match meal as part of their preparations and that might happen again.

"It's about preparing the best you can and giving the players every chance. After we played Square Utd the other week 10 of the players went up to Brian Gartland's recovery rooms in Blanchardstown. We try to do everything right to help the players. The little things, fine margins can get you over the line." Walsh has also been involved in 46 European matches with Dundalk.

A great source of pride for Walsh is that the current Kentstown team is almost exclusively made up players from the locality. "That means a lot to me, a lot of them came up through underage, different grades, and we had some tough decisions to make for the Bellurgan game, leaving out lads who had played all season but it's a team sport and it worked out for us at the end. “We were lucky with the goal we did get but we had to dig deep in that second-half as well." Walsh talked of the good work that is ongoing at Kentstown Rovers FC with new coaches working with the next generation of young players emerging through the system. The immediate concern is Saturday's cup final. Two years ago Kentstown lost out to Trim Celtic in the final. Now they want to put make up for that setback. They are on a mission to take the trophy home. The dream lives on.

Kentstown Rovers' squad - Ross Walsh, Colin Walsh, Keith Walsh, Shane Gargan, James Friery, Colin Lynch, Andy Lynch, Cillien Corcoran, Matthew Poutch, James Lynch, David Bowens, Daire Corcoran, Daire Walsh, Derek Bowens, Dylan Doyle, Derek Ratcliffe, Paul McDonnell, Darren Lynch, Matthew Byrne, Brendan Lynch.