Manulla youngsters make history

Manulla make history


Final
Manulla               1
Castlebar Celtic  0

John Dingle
Athlone

MANULLA FC made history by winning their first ever Connacht Cup when they beat local rivals Castlebar Celtic in the under-14 final in Athlone on Sunday. The game looked to be heading for extra time when captain Liam Flatley popped up to score the winning goal with just two minutes left. 
Manulla may have gone into the final as underdogs, but dominated the early stages against the fancied Celtic side. SeΡn Morrissey was prominent, shooting over the bar and having two free kicks saved by Adam Chambers. As Manulla continued on the offensive, Luke Ralph had a shot parried by Chambers, with Flatley sending the rebound back across goal where it was cleared behind for a corner kick.
The woodwork rescued Castlebar after 17 minutes when a Jesse Devers shot from the right rattled the crossbar with a follow up effort from Gary McHale again put behind for a corner. Celtic finally came to life as the half progressed with Cathal Lisibach shooting over and danger man Noe Baba then earning their first corner of the game. The remainder of the half saw play flow from end to end but at half time it was still scoreless.
Manulla had the first chance on the resumption when Flatley headed over, but thereafter Castlebar looked the more likely to score as the highly-rated Baba – heretofore kept quiet by Shane Conway – became more prominent. Gary Walsh had a shot tipped over by Manulla goalkeeper Matthew Flanagan, and a goalmouth scramble followed from the resulting corner before the ball was cleared off the line.
Baba shot wide from the right and was out of luck after 57 minutes when his strike from the left edge of the penalty area hit the post. The game was finely balanced as it reached the closing stages with Manulla staging a late revival which saw Morrissey have a shot blocked and the ball almost rebounding into the net off Flatley after the goalkeeper had parried a Devers strike.
Extra time seemed likely as full time approached but Manulla sensationally won the cup in ordinary time with two minutes left. The boys in blue won a throw in which was fastened onto by Flatley who powered his way to the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a volley which hit the post and into the net. There was no response from Castlebar, and Manulla held out to claim their first ever Connacht Cup.

Manulla
Matthew Flanagan, Sean Morrissey, Shane Conway, Lorcan Henry, Keelan McDonnell, Ben Freyne, Liam Flatley, Gary McHale, Jesse Devers, Luke Ralph, Michael Bell.
Sub used: Dylan Padden for L Ralph (61 mins).

Castlebar Celtic
Adam Chambers, Philip Ruddy, Mark Howley, Sean Conlon, Matthew Ruane, Stephen McDermott, Cathal Lisibach, Gary Walsh, Michael Sweeney, Noe Baba, Sam Hastings.
Sub used: Jason Hunt for M Sweeney (56 mins).

Referee: T Cormican (Roscommon)