Cabo Saturday Seniors
Captain Niall King leads Cabo out
Shamrock Rovers
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Cabo Saturday Seniors |
Captain Niall King leads Cabo out |
Shamrock Rovers |
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A Great Day Out Cabinteely FC recorded a historic win in the home of Whitehall Rangers on Saturday afternoon to deny Shamrock Rovers the double and capture the first trophy in the Cabo Senior squad’s short two year history. Shamrock Rovers were chasing the double after winning the Saturday Premier 1 title, having gone unbeaten all season to this point. Cabinteely, on the other hand, were sitting mid-table in Saturday’s Premier Division, as some foot off the gas football towards end of season had seen them slip from promotion chasers to also-rans. However cup competition is very different; league form goes out the window and it’s a time for big players to step up and win the day. Finals are more often than not cagey and tense affairs with players afraid to make the one mistake that sees all the hard work of the season go down the pan. But, on Saturday, May 23, 2009 not one of the players from either side looked one bit afraid and a cup final classic was what followed. Both teams came out of the blocks at an intense hundred mile an hour pace and this did not dip for the entire course of the match. Rovers drew first blood after only five minutes when some clinical finishing punished Cabinteely for some dithering at the back. Cabo 0-1 Rovers A harmless enough ball pumped forward by Alan Herbert was made look difficult by the Cabinteely rearguard and, with no one taking charge, Joey Hayden latched onto the pass and bore down on goal. Coming in from a tight angle the striker still had a lot to do but his low drilled shot was too hot for Cabinteely keeper Conor Quinn and Rovers were in front. Straight from tip however Cabinteely showed they were not taking this setback lying down. Georgie Miller, Cabinteely’s French superstar, burst through the centre of the park, brushing off the attention of Luke Keegan before threading an inviting ball for the pacey Davie Redmond to latch onto. Taking the ball to the end line, Redmond cut it back across goal but the inrushing Simon Campbell was prevented heading Cabinteely back on terms by a well-timed block from the always solid Andy Fitzpatrick (see pic). Cabo 1-1 Rovers Cabinteely were then awarded a free kick just inside their half beside the dug outs. With Hoops ‘keeper Adam O’Loughlin organising his defence and slightly off his line, Cabo right back Darragh Miller (cousin to Georgie) showed unbelievable vision and opportunism to have a pop from inside his own half. The ball travelled like a rocket towards goal and with one huge bounce it travelled all the way into the top corner of the Rovers’ net for a goal which had both sets of fans rubbing their eyes in bemusement (see pic of celebrations). Cabinteely’s joy was short-lived however as the always threatening Simon Campbell was forced off with a shoulder injury but was replaced by club top scorer Kevin Baker. Coach Dave Foley had to pop Si's shoulder back in before he can be moved! Baker’s impact was instant. A wonderful run from wing wizard Davie Redmond once again had Rovers’ defence in trouble and, when he linked up with Peter Robson, it was always going to be dangerous. Robson slipped a ball in behind the Rovers’ back line and the fresh legs of Baker were the first to react. His first touch on the pitch was to slide the ball past Adam O’Loughlin only to see his shot come back off the post and put behind for a corner. From the resulting corner Cabinteely deservedly went in front. Cabo 2-1 Rovers The ball was whipped in by the busy Redmond and, coming off a number of bodies in the middle of the goal, the ball broke to the edge of the box only to be rocketed back on target by Georgie Miller and through the clusters of bodies and into the back of the net. 2-1 to the cousins and Cabo and cue the early celebrations on the sideline. Rovers however were well up for a battle and Brian McGuinness and Luke Keegan had a ping pong back and forth battle with Cabo midfielders Mark O’Connor and Niall King all afternoon. It was here where the game was ebbing and flowing from with both sets of central midfielders pulling the strings and dictating the pattern of the game. A thumping challenge from the always battling Mark O’Connor on Keegan led to the Cabinteely player picking up a booking. From the resulting free Rovers could have been level. The free kick was taken quickly inside the Rovers’ half and knocked down the wing by Paul McGrath to the quick feet of Joey Hayden. His chipped cross was met by the head of the inrushing Scott Doyle but his shot went agonisingly wide of the ever-alert Conor Quinn’s post. HT Cabo 2-1 Rovers Half-time was greeted with relief from both teams as the intense nature of the game would have had an effect on even the fittest of players. Rovers had a tough task ahead in breaking down the Cabinteely defence with all the back four on top of their games. Alan McMahon and goal hero Georgie Miller were soaking up anything coming down the flanks and the other goal hero Darragh Miller and Gar Byrne seemed to be winning every header in the opening half. But it takes a great team to break down a great team and Rovers showed just why they were unbeaten all season with a well-worked goal from a corner shortly after the restart. Cabo 2-2 Rovers A short corner pass from McGuinness to Keegan was whipped expertly into the danger area by the latter and with a diving thumping header, Scott Doyle levelled things up once again. Rovers had to be the most regimented team I have seen all year and, from set pieces in particular, were nothing short of spectacular. Cabinteely did not have to wait too long to return into the lead when a moment of madness by Rovers’ stalwart Andy Fitzpatrick saw the centre-half see red and Cabinteely awarded a penalty. A Gar Byrne pass out to the flank was picked up by Alan McMahon who switched play with his first touch, picking out Niall King raiding through the middle. King then threaded a neat pass out to the wing to Robson whose first touch was so good that it took the Rovers’ defender out of the game and all he could then do was to cynically take out Robson, earning Fitzpatrick his first booking. Davie Redmond whipped in a dangerous looking dead ball and, in a moment of madness, the Rovers’ centre-half, who had been so solid all afternoon up to then, threw out a hand, palming it away from Kevin Baker's head. Cabo 3-2 Rovers The referee had no option but to show the second booking followed by the red and Rovers’ final had started to unravel. Without any hesitation whatsoever Cabinteely top scorer Kevin Baker stepped up and took responsibility from twelve yards. His penalty was low and hard and despite the keeper’s best efforts Cabinteely were once again a goal to the good (see pic). They say ten men often play better then eleven due to increased work ethic and this proved true to some extent. The sending off seemed to have negative effect on the Cabinteely flair and they dropped deep, inviting a wave of Rovers’ attacks which the Premier 1 winners were more than happy to deliver. A neat passing movement down the wings between Keegan and Hayden led to an opening when Hayden was for once given space to shoot. His shot was high and to the right and in the end never really had Conor Quinn in any real trouble. The 'keeper's goal kick however did cause his own team problems when it went straight to the feet of goalscorer Scott Doyle and the striker bore down on goal, looking for a quick reply for the Rovers. Quinn was quick to rectify the error and was down bravely to the feet of Doyle just as he was about to pull the trigger. It should have been game, set and match with twenty minutes remaining as penalty hero Baker became villain when being put clean through on goal. The striker showed a quick pair of heels (see pic) from the Redmond through ball and, with only the 'keeper to beat, he hit it low to the latter's right only to see O’Loughlin in the Rovers goal get a finger tip to the ball and see it around the post. Rovers threw everything and the kitchen sink at Cabinteely for the next twenty minutes but Gar Byrne and Darragh Miller soaked up all they had and it seemed the day had been won by the boys in yellow. But cup finals are not won until you’re putting the lid of the cup on your head and jumping up and down singing ‘Championes’. Rovers never said die and, with thirty seconds remaining on the clock, they got their just rewards and rightly so. Cabo 3-3 Rovers Cabinteely, as I said earlier, had started to drop very deep and with the regimented set-piece style that Rovers have down to a tee, it was a dangerous game of Russian Roulette and the bullet in the chamber came in the form of a thumping header from the rock solid Gary Walsh. It was a bitter blow to Cabinteely who looked to have it won but no less than Rovers deserved. End of normal time - Cabo 3-3 Rovers - and on into extra time Extra time was like a series of scenes from a war film as bodies dropped to the turf quicker than a venture into no man’s land as the cramp and fatigue of 120 minutes of football at a hectic pace started to take its effect. Cabinteely were down to ten men and even nine at certain periods as both Ben Gleeson and Mark O’Connor had to come off due to injury only to return to the pitch to act as human battering rams to get their side over the line. And this was the attitude of both teams as no quarter was sought or given in extra time. It was always a moment of brilliance that was going to win the day and in the end it was two! Firstly the pass, followed by a finish of which any striker at any level would be proud. Kevin Baker turned provider when his through ball from midfield sliced open the dead on their feet Rovers back line. This put clear Man of the Match Peter Robson who has won the highest Leinster Senior League honours and also played League of Ireland with Dublin City. Cabo 4-3 Rovers I always think the sign of a quality player is when he is in control of the outcome of a match and he is more relaxed than anyone else in the ground. Robson, when one-on-one with O’Loughlin, dropped his right shoulder making the ‘keeper commit slightly and, with a change of pace, went the opposite way, rounding the hapless Rovers’ net-minder, before coolly walking the ball over the goal line to put Cabinteely back into a lead which seemed to be always only moments away from being restored. If you look up the word 'calm' in the dictionary a picture of Robson may very well feature. Rovers still did not lie down or roll over and a barrage of corner kicks followed with Joey Hayden and Scott Doyle coming so close to equalising, only for Quinn in goals to make some pressure saves in the closing stages. FT Cabo 4-3 Rovers This proved one step too far for the Rovers side and their dreams of going a season undefeated was in tatters as Cabinteely claimed the Liam Dodd Cup after last year’s disappointment of falling at the final hurdle. Manager Dave Kelly and coach Dave Foley said they were relieved to swap silver medals from last year’s cup venture and in the end it was probably this that got the Kilbogget-based side over the line. The two sides deserve huge credit for producing such an entertaining performance and drama on the day and the game was played with the highest intensity but also with the highest respect. Rovers came organised and solid but Cabinteely’s flair and panache saw them through by the narrowest of margins. This Cabinteely Senior squad, only in its second season together have every reason to be proud, winning a cup up against a team that has been around for so long in Irish football. Rovers may be soaked in tradition, but at half past five on Saturday afternoon it was the Cabinteely lads who were soaked in the Champagne! Our thanks to Whitehall Rangers for hosting the final, to LSL officials Tommy Hunt and John Stokes for attending and making the presentation and to club LSL Secretary Brian Carr for organising the day out. The lads made their way back to Kilbogget after the game for their own end-of-season celebration, which lasted all evening and into Sunday morning - of which more later, no doubt. Full Senior Squad Seán Animobono, Kevin Baker, David Bolton, Gareth Byrne, David Wally Byrne, Jeffery Cahill, Simon Campbell, David Carraher, Niall Cluskey, Aaron Farrell, Ben Gleeson, Stephen Heffernan, Karl Hynes, Frankie Keegan, David Keenaghan, David Kelly, Niall King, Keith Locke, Lindsay McCabe, Brian McGovern, Kevin McGovern, Alan McMahon, Daragh Miller, Greg Miller, Jason Mulvaney, Mark O'Connor, Matthew Page, Vasco Pita, Conor Quinn, David Redmond, Peter Robson, Morgan Ryan, Ross Whelan. Scroll on down for some more pics. |
 Left full Alan McMahon  Niall King goes highest  Alan 'They Shall Not Pass' McMahon  Snarling Si Campbell  Mark O'Connor and opponent seek the ball  Close thing from Si Campbell  Georgie Miller stands tall  Linsday McCabe and Darragh Miller hold the line  Celebrations after Darragh's goal  Darragh and Lindsey still holding out  Niall highest again!  Lindsey and Darragh and a gap!  Defence in depth |
 Peter Robson free-kick |
 Kinger starts another attack |
 Linsday's haka |
 Gar Byrne in control |
 Conor 'Squid' Quinn's ball |
 Al takes the player too |
 Ben Gleeson's skill on the ball ... |
 ... to Al, who shows his own ... |
 ... back to Ben for some more tippy tappy |
 Gar in control again, as usual |
 Most of Cabo's midfield |
 Kinger on to Robbo? |
 Kinger on to Robbo again? |
 Robbo pounces |
 Gar going to win the ball yet again ...? |
 ... he does, and shoots! |
 Ben's non-ball skills |
 Who hit Kinger? Not the ball anyway! |
 Is this a handball coming up? |
 Ben gets onto it |
 The ref has had just enough this time |
 Mark O'Connor has a go |
 Kinger demands it from Davie Redmond |
 Half time chat with the third team |
 Robbo denied this time |
 Will this make it through to Squid? |
 Darragh and Kevin Baker demand the peno |
 Baker makes sure from the spot |
 Davie chases his man down |
 Robbo ready to stike yet again |
 Where did he come from ... foiled |
 Baker on the breakaway |
 Some of the big crowd ... mostly Cabo |
 ... and the other side, with aircraft |
 Georgie's highest this time |
 Mark shows his style too |
 Ben also foiled by Rovers' 'keeper |
 Davie looks to pick out the pass |
 Kinger's still on the pitch too |
 Robbo's at it again |
 All eyes on the ball? |
 Mark's in cruise control |
 Davie's going to beat them all yet again |
 Georgie clears his lines |
 He's not going to get by Mark, is he? |
 Georgie tracks ball and man ... |
 ... neither get past him, though |
 Squid comes to collect |
 Georgie and Mark ready for the next move |
 While Gar still stops them from passing |
 Corner coming in ... |
 ... and forward Baker gets up highest |
 Davie on his toes right to the end |
 While Georgie holds them off |
 LSL official John Stokes awaits with the cup |
 Comparing bruises while waiting |
 John calls the crowd to order |
 John and Tommy Hunt say a few words |
 Robbo wins Man of the Match ... |
 ... with a big smile ... |
 ... and then gets a hug from Keith Locke! |
 Medals being admired |
 Tommy wants the others up |
 Mark doesn't have to tackle for this |
 Injured flier Ross Whelan gets his award |
 Gar needs to cool down first |
 Ben relived to have come out on top |
 Al and Squid with their medals |
 Robbo gets a medal too |
 Kevin Baker stopped in his tracks |
 Centre-halves Linsday and Darragh |
 Jeff Cahill delighted |
 The injured Si survived this far |
 Morgan Ryan picks up his dues |
 Finally, deserving manager Dave Kelly |
 Captain Niall and Vice-Captain Georgie ... |
 ... up to meet Liam Dodd ... |
 ... and show their delight too |
 The others join in |
 Brian, Max and our youngest supporter |
 Finally ... relaxed and happy |
 Now we can sing 'Championes' |