GOLDEN MOMENT Inver Utd’s Martin Geraghty and James Doherty (right) celebrate after Doherty’s goal against Charlestown Athletic in the Tonra Cup Final at Milebush last weekend.
Inver hail King James
FINAL
Inver Utd 1
J Doherty 84
Charlestown Ath 0
Daniel Carey
Milebush Park
LAST Saturday’s Tonra Cup final was settled by a goal worthy of winning any game. Six minutes from full time, Pat McAndrew’s corner kick was half cleared, but James Doherty met the ball with the sweetest of volleys, and it flew into the net. The Erris club was only founded in 2004, and this was as proud a day as they’ve had.
Fans moved out of the stand down as far as the fence in Milebush Park ready for a post-match pitch invasion, but only a fantastic point-blank save by David Coyle prevented Patrick McDermott from scoring an 89th minute equaliser. It was an action-packed finish to a game which produced its fair share of chances, but struggled to settle into any kind of pattern.
There might have been a goal as early as the fourth minute, as Inver’s Pat McAndrew broke through on goal. However, Charlestown goalkeeper Dennis Stevens made the first of a series of outstanding saves. But it was the east Mayo side who had the better chances in the opening quarter. Patrick McDermott headed wide from a corner, while James Kilroy curled a free kick around the wall, but David Coyle did superbly to turn the ball around the post. Gary Murphy shot wide on the turn, Michael Taylor was off target from long range, and McDermott found space on the left before testing goalkeeper Coyle.
From the resultant kickout, Pat McAndrew again got through in a one-on-one situation, but Stevens was again equal to his effort. Shortly afterwards, Inver’s Mark Ginnelly headed just wide, and as the ball swung from end to end, Alan Coyle was on course to clear the ball off the line after Tom Towey had a go. James Doherty got into a great position before the interval, but again Stevens was in no mood to be beaten.
Nil-nil at the break then, and Doherty had two more near misses early in the second half, both again kept out by the impressive Charlestown netminder. At the other end, Brendan Towey’s lob couldn’t beat David Coyle, and then Towey turned provider for Shaun Gavaghan, who headed over.
The pendulum seem to have swung Charlestown’s way by the 65th minute, when their opponents were reduced to ten men. Vincent Coyle, cautioned just seven minutes earlier, received his second yellow card for a late tackle on Stephen Quinn. James McAndrew, Tom Towey, Martin Geraghty and Gary Murphy all had half chances, but as a chanting match between the respective sets of supporters developed in the stand, we were as far away as ever from a breakthrough.
Charlestown substitute Jason Dempsey introduced fresh impetus on the right wing, and his peach of a cross from deep almost set up the opener nine minutes from time. However, Patrick McDermott headed just wide, and three minutes later, man of the match James Doherty had given Inver the lead with that peach of a goal.
There would be no way back for Charlestown, though they went close on two occasions in the final moments. Brendan Towey had a go from distance at the other end shortly afterwards, and Coyle again denied McDermott before the end. It certainly wasn’t a classic, but Orangemen aren’t the only group who’ll have fond memories of July 12. It was, one suspects, a late night in Inver.
INVER UNITED
D Coyle, A Doherty, R Ginty, M Ginnelly, J McAndrew, V Coyle, A Coyle, J Doherty, S Noone, P McAndrew, M Geraghty.
Sub used: M Markwick for Geraghty (87 mins).
CHARLESTOWN ATHLETIC
D Stevens, S Quinn, S Gavaghan, N Gavaghan, T Towey, M McDonnell, B Towey, M Taylor, J Kilroy, G Murphy, P McDermott.
Subs used: J Dempsey for McDonnell (73 mins); M Taylor for Kilroy (85 mins).
Referee: M Halligan
