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Article from The Kerryman
Master class seals league title
Thursday July 21 2005
Mastergeeha 1 Fenit Samphires 1(Mastergeeha won 4-3 on pens after extra time)
Mastergeeha ended a barren 13 year spell without a trophy by capturing the Denny Division 1 League title after an absorbing replay with Fenit Samphires that was decided only after a penalty shoot out at Mounthawk Park on Monday evening last.In truth there was nothing between these two fine sides, that will enhance the Premier League next season, but for now the bragging rights are with Mastergeeha who just edged home in a dramatic penalty shoot-out under lights at KDL headquarters. Both sides had given their all over two games and 20 minutes of extra time and they just could not be separated so rather than prolong their seasons any further, it was all down to soccer’s form of Russian Roulette. Mastergeeha were first into the breach as Daniel O’Leary stepped forward but his effort was saved by the legs of Neil O’Connor and Fenit had grabbed the vital early initiative or so it seemed! Mike Moloney made no mistake as Fenit led 1-0 but John Fleming held his nerve to level. Then Francis Wallace screwed his spot kick wide left and Mastergeeha were back in the contest. Mike Dwyer and Shane McMahon then both were successful for their sides as John Devane put Mastergeeha 3-2 in front. Then Noel Dillon pulled Fenit’s fourth spot kick wide and suddenly the game was there for Mastergeeha as their supporters held their collective breaths. Upped stepped goalkeeper Kieran Fleming to try and end the contest but despite beating his opposite number O’Connor, the ball agonisingly came back off the butt of the post and Fenit had been granted a lifeline. Pa McCarthy despite a dodgy hamstring levelled and so to sudden death. Mastergeeha were first and it was their goal scorer Donald Dwyer who stepped forward and the Kilcummin wing forward , held his nerve as he blasted the ball past O’Connor. It was now Fenit’s turn and after what seemed an age young Patrick McCarthy was sent into the breach and it was a must score kick. Maybe it was the pressure on lad of just 17 summers but he struck his penalty low and hard, only to watch in horror as Fleming showing cat like reflexes, dived full length to make a super save. It was all over as Fleming had turned from villain a moment earlier to hero and Mastergeeha celebrated a famous win. But credit too to Fenit Samphires who had to play without their injured Kerry U-21 star Brian Fitzgerald and still managed to battle all the way to the end, only to cruelly lose out. It was a classic game of two halves to begin with as Mastergeeha had the aid of the strong wind in the first and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession as both sides played the ball on the deck with plenty of movement. Mastergeeha took the lead in the 24th minute when they attacked down the right and after good work by Kevin Bruton, the ball arrived to full back Donald Dwyer about 35 yards from goal on the right and he unleashed a powerful drive that flew like an arrow through the air before entering the net, just inside the left hand post with keeper O’Connor completely deceived. Martin Ferris and Shane McMahon were playing well for Fenit but Donald Dwyer was doing a very good marking job on the dangerous Mike Moloney which meant that Fenit were not creating too many chances
When they did get through, Paul Lenihan and Tommy Cooper were outstanding at the back, clearing their lines with regularity.
Mastergeeha might have scored another before the interval when Shane McMahon almost headed the ball into his own net but it just crept outside the post. It was a different game in the second half as Fenit pummelled the Mastergeeha defence for fully 20 minutes with the wind to their backs, as the Kilcummin side could barely get beyond the half way line.
Fenit came forward in waves, but though they huffed and puffed- they just could not blow Mastergeeha’s house down. Noel Dillon, Francis Wallace and Ferris all went close while Pa McCarthy was causing major problems down the right.
Then the pressure finally told in the 70th minute when Mike Moloney’s free kick was not cleared and a couple of efforts were charged down, the ball broke out to Moloney on the edge of the box and he rifled home the equaliser through a forest of bodies.
For some strange reason, Fenit did not build on this goal but it acted as a spur to revitalise Mastergeeha’s efforts and they finished the stronger despite losing of their two most influential players, Paul Lenihan and Mike O’Sullivan. Mastergeeha should have scored in the 78th minute when Colm Lenihan headed a ball behind that looked to be going in anyway while Fleming saved well from Brian Moloney at the other end. In extra time both sides appeared to tire as Fenit forced a succession of corners but it was Mastergeeha who went closest in the second period when Daniel O’Leary looked to have scored when he beat O’Connor with a vicious drive but somehow Shane McMahon took the ball off the line, and so to the penalty shoot out where Mastergeeha claimed victory and the celebrations began for this fine side.
Teams:
Mastergeeha — K Fleming, D Dwyer, J Fleming, P Lenihan, T Cooper, K Bruton, M O’Sullivan, C Lenihan, A Kerins, J Devane, A Breen.
Subs: D O’Leary for A Kerins, M Dwyer for M O’Sullivan ( inj), D Fleming for P Lenihan ( injured).
Fenit Samphires — N O’Connor, T Crean, J McCarthy, S McMahon, F Wallace, Pa McCarthy, M Ferris, N Dillon, M Moloney, B Moloney, K Walsh.
Subs: Pat McCarthy for K Walsh, R Kelly for T Crean.
Referee: M F O’Connor.
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