Fired-up Johnstown secure sweet victory

YOUTH CUP FINAL Poignant night for Navan club

The floodlights were switched on early into this NERL Youth Fitzgerald Leddy Cup final at the MDL on Friday night and they illuminated a sparking, high-quality encounter that contained plenty of creative play and some spectacular scores.

There was a deep note of poignancy to the evening as the trophy that was up for grabs is named after two young players - Evan Fitzgerald and Mikey Leddy - who both played for Johnstown and left this world far too soon.

Jonathan Quirke's side also ticked a significant box with this victory as this particular Johnstown team had won other honours - including the league title and Shield last season. However, they had missed out on the cup - until Friday night.

Last season they lost out to OMP at the semi-final stage. They also lost 0-1 to Torro in the league last week. This time around they were clearly fired up to go the whole way - and they did just that with the help of goals from Conor Hannigan, Killian McCarrick, Tommy Briody and Jake O'Callaghan.

Three of the Johnstown goals arrived in a second-half that clipped along at a right old pace with Torro also finding the net twice following the break. Both their goals were scored by their man-of-the-match Cian Newman, including one from a free kick hit from 35 metres that Ronaldo would have been proud to claim as their own.

Hit with venom, power and direction the ball flew at the speed of sound into the top corner. Newman's second goal shortly afterwards was also superbly taken, this time from closer range.

Containing six players who have played senior first team football, Johnstown, were strong favourites but they certainly found in Alan Oakes' well-organised, well-coached team worthy opponents.

Torro's Alex O'Neill, Flavour O Efe and Newman all caused the Johnstown defence problems in the opening half. Tyler Farrell in the Johnstown goal had to be alert to save efforts from each of them. He was more than equal to the task. Torro 'keeper Shane Maguire was also on full alert for any threat on his goals.

The deadlock was broken just before the break when Hannigan pounced on a bouncing ball in the Torro goalmouth before firing home. It was a typical poacher's goal, smartly taken.

Torro needed a bright start to the second-half. Instead Johnstown went 2-0 up, then 3-0 with McCarrick and Briody finding the net in quick succession.

It wasn't looking good for Oakes' young guns at that stage. It was then they showed their character; their grit. Instead of folding they found renewed vigour and hope helped greatly by Newman's memorable thunderbolt of a free on 49 minutes. 3-1.

Six minutes later Newman struck again. 3-2. Emboldened now Torro created neat moves that carried a real threat. At the end of one of those Alex O'Neill unleashed a shot from the edge of the box. Farrell brilliantly touched the ball against the bar and the danger passed.

Jay Gavigan also caused the Johnstown defence some problems with a long throw into the Torro box. The tension in the attendance was palpable.

One of the changes Johnstown made was to bring on substitute O'Callaghan and shortly before the end he made a decisive intervention. Like a classical music composer he put together a sweet movement. He skilfully side-stepped a few would-be markers before calmly rolling the ball into the net. A super individual effort.

Johnstown had done the business on a joyful yet poignant evening for them.

Johnstown - Tyler Farrell; Alex Quigley, Cormac Maguire, Josh Quirke, Aaron King, Conor Smyth, Tommy Briody, Sean O'Brien, Conor Hannigan, Senan Colgan, Killian McCarrick. Subs - Caiden McFadden for O'Brien 55m, Jamie O'Reilly for Colgan, Jake O'Callaghan for Hannigan both 61m, Hannigan for Briody 79m, Matthew Foley for McCarrick, James Lusk for Hannigan both 86m.

Torro Utd - Shane Maguire; Patrick Shields, Mark Cronin, Matthew Frazier, Eoghan Moore, Conor Oakes, Jay Gavigan, Flavour O Efe, Cian Newman, Sean Brady, Alex O'Neill. Subs - Sean Carolan for Brady 47m, Joey Byrne for Oakes 68m, Sean Power for Shields 85m, Daniel Tyndale for Gavigan 89m.

Referee - Stephen Murphy; assistants - Ben Cranley, Jude Melkias.