Lavey prove best in dramatic U20 final

U20 Division 2 League final

Lavey 3-12

Cootehill Celtic 1-14

Three opportunist goals worked the oracle for Lavey as they annexed the U20 FC Division 2 decider at an atmospheric St. Bridget’s Park, Knockbride on Friday evening last.

The winners may have been a tad flattered by their five point winning margin but even the most partisan Celt could scarcely argue against the view that justice was served with the garlanding of the silverware in black and white.

Having suffered the angst of defeat to the same Cootehill squad in a county underage final in the recent past, Lavey’s finest gave a glimpse of their future potential by producing a spirited and defiant performance laced with plenty of skill.

For Cootehill’s part, the Celts will rue the fact that they shot themselves in the foot at times in defence and that Dame Fortune ruled that up front the influential wCian Cooper would still be hampered by a leg injury that would curtail his influence on the game before, eventually, guillotining his participation quite some time before the curtain call.

To the victor the spoils then and Lavey’s triumph was well deserved and it’s a title win that will doubtless be all the sweeter for the effort they had to put in to get over the finishing line and for the fact that on two separate occasions they were down to 14 players due to black cards.

Lavey team captain James McBreen receives the U20 Division 2 cup from Kieran Callaghan (County board) with Cootehill captain Thomas Plunkett (left).

The in-form Jake Whyte had the Celts in front with a free after just 48 seconds and they would have their noses in front for another 11 minutes before Lavey hit the jackpot by notching their opening goal.

A strong run from Rian Delaney saw him make it 0-4 to 0-2 after ten minutes but Lavey were never ever in danger of being cut adrift and, instead, a long range free by Connor Smith and Dean McCabe’s spot-kick (12) – after James Sheridan was fouled – had the eventual winners ahead (1-3 to 0-4) for the first time in the final.

Cootehill continued to fight the good fight and, driven forward at every opportunity by the outstanding Ben McGahan, Lavey were forced to work like trojans to retain their hard-earned lead.

Lavey actually led by 1-5 to 0-7 when they conjured up another goal chance with 23 minutes on the clock but Cootehill netminder Adrian McDonald denied James Sheridan.

Later, with Lavey defending a 1-7 to 0-8 lead – after a fine Dean McCabe long range effort – Mark Farrell saw his goal effort well saved by Conor Smith.

Lavey's James McBreen keeps tight possession of the ball from Cootehill's Aaron Comiskey.

Cootehill leaped out of the starting blocks after the restart and Whyte pointed before turning provider for McGahan to brilliantly rifle the ball over the bar and level the score, 0-10 to 1-7.

Cootehill grabbed their one and only major in the 38th minute when McGahan’s arrowed effort dropped short and Cooper fisted to the Lavey net to give the Hoops the lead (1-10 to 1-8) for the first time since the 11th minute.

Cootehill got another lift when Connor Smith was black carded (42) but while Lavey bent, they refused to break and neat points by James Sheridan and Finn Buckley again made it all-square (1-11 apiece).

It was anyone’s game at this juncture but after another Whyte point (57) gave Cootehill a one point lead once more, Lavey found the jugular for the second time with Oisin Tynan banging the ball to the net to leave his side 2-11 to 1-12 in front one minute shy of the end of normal time.

Cootehill hung in there but the loss through injury of key attacker Cooper and another mis-understanding at the back in the 61st minute which resulted in James Sheridan goaling for Lavey was a proverbial double whammy that the Hoops just couldn’t cope with.

Lavey had Oran Daly black carded (62) and while Whyte had the final say with a converted free (63), that was to be Cootehill’s last hurrah leaving Lavey to celebrate a gritty and justified victory.

Lavey: Conor Smith; Tom Clarke, James McBreen (0-1); Oran Daly, Liam Maguire, Finn Buckley (0-1); Callum Maguire, Thomas Plunkett (0-1); Oisin Tynan (1-1), Connor Smith (0-2, 2f), Ronan King(0-1); Dean McCabe (1-2, pen), James Sheridan (1-3).

Subs: Adam Tierney for T Clarke; Dylan Crawford for T Plunkett.

Cootehill Celtic: Adrian McDonald; Eoin Comiskey, Aaron Comiskey; Garret Gilbert (0-1), Rian Delaney (0-1), Evan Maguire; Ben McGahan (0-1), Christian Hennessy; Callum O’Reilly (0-1), Mark Farrell, Eli Argue (0-2, 2f); Kian Cooper (1-2), Jake Whyte(0-6, 2f).

Sub; Christopher Dunn for K Cooper (inj).