Division One Cup Final Preview: Breska Rovers v Adare United
Mick Hanley Park, Clounreask, Saturday 29thJune, KO 7pm.
Our junior team make the trip to Mick Hanley Park this Saturday evening to face Adare United in the Division One Cup final. The game marks our first appearance in the junior cup final since we were victorious against Glin Rovers B on spot-kicks after a 1-1 draw. That was the Richard Hogan Cup and our subsequent four seasons have seen us become the opposite to cup specialists, but thankfully this has changed somewhat this season.
The game will see fourth placed Breska Rovers and runners-up Adare United clash for the third time this season. The two league meetings came either side of Christmas, with Adare deservedly winning 2-1 in Manor Fields before we shared a 1-1 draw in Clarina earlier this year. Both Breska goals were scored by captain Mark Phayer.
Adare will go into the game as favourites having earned promotion to the Premier Division. They also missed out on league honours by just a single point.
Our route to the final has been via two away games. A 0-0 draw in Ballysteen saw us win on penalties, with James Purcell saving three and scoring one.
The last four tie with AK United was a tight affair which we prevailed 2-1. Josh Fitzgerald opened the scoring from distance and he added a second following a mistake in the AK defence. Plenty of rear-guard action followed with our experienced players – James Purcell, James Kennedy, David Fitzgerald and Tommy Collery to the fore. With the game at 2-1 late on, Tom Clancy earned a second yellow card and was sent off, however, we held firm for the win.
The semi-final was played on the May bank holiday weekend and unfortunately we have only had one competitive outing since. This 2-2 draw with Rathkeale B was played some weeks ago, without our full compliment of players.
Adare, meanwhile, have lost just once in 17 games, that to Rathkeale A of the Premier Division. Wins over Shannonside (3-1), Rathkeale (3-0) and Newcastle West Town Reserves (3-2) have put them into the final.
Saturday will see Nathan Sheehan, Tom Clancy and Declan Normoyle return to the squad following suspension, while Josh Page has returned following a year on the sidelines. Unfortunately a number of our squad are on holidays meaning we are calling on our youths players to give us the strongest possible squad against a good footballing side in Adare United.
The game promises to be entertaining and competitive, we call on our members to support Adrian Costello and his team. Kick off is at 7pm in Clounreask, Saturday June 29th.
Squad: Adrian Costello (Manager) Ben Adams, Conor McCarthy, David Fitzgerald, Declan Normoyle, Diarmuid O’Connor, Ethan Keyes, Ger Mullins, Jack Moroney, James Flanagan, James Kennedy, James Purcell, Josh Moloney, Josh Fitzgerald, Josh Page, Kevin Foster, Mark Phayer (captain), Michael Keating, Nathan Sheehan, Nigel Mann, Orin Garvey, Sean Healy, TJ O’Connor, Tom Clancy, Tommy Collery