Third time lucky as Monksland win Counties Cup

Monksland United 2 Towerhill Rovers 0

John Dingle

It was third time lucky for Monksland United as they finally got their hands on some silverware to end the season on a high note last Saturday evening.

Defeat to Clara in both the Paddy Cotter Cup final and the Senior Division league play-off left the Athlone team in the last chance saloon. The Counties Cup final brought down the curtain on the CCFL season and United justified favouritism with a comfortable victory over Towerhill Rovers.

Having tasted defeat the two previous weekends, Monksland had once more to raise their game and revive tired limbs in the heat at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore. Towerhill were outsiders but the Laois outfit had suffered only one defeat on their way to the First Division title and were intent on creating a shock.

But aside from a brief period midway through the second half, Monksland were on top and deserved to end a long and at times frustrating campaign by lifting the cup.

The deadlock was broken on 14 minutes when Matt Scally headed a Ryan O’Connor free kick from the right over the keeper and into the net. It was a good start for the 2019 winners who proceeded to dominate the remainder of the opening half.

The cup was all but wrapped up in the red and white colours just before the hour mark. Shane Dolan sent in a right wing cross and O’Connor followed up on his earlier assist by shooting home off the post.

Rovers were handed a way back into contention midway through the half. Monksland goalkeeper Cathal Hannon was adjudged to have fouled Darren Larkin and Martin Hilliard stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick. The veteran was out of luck as, even though Hannon had gone the other way, the strike hit off the post.

Towerhill needed a goal to make the final more interesting but United took advantage of the miss to stay in control.

Monksland United: Cathal Hannon, Kevin Dunne, Brian Francis, Kevin Gaylard, David O’Brien, Aidan Reilly, Stephen Francis, Shane Dolan, Matt Scally, Ryan O’Connor, Reece Moran. Subs: Dylan Jinks for Scally (67 mins); Alan Fox for O’Connor (77); Donal Beirne for S Francis (83); Fergal Murray for Gaylard (86); Andy Quinn for Reilly (88).

Towerhill Rovers: Cian Culleton, Shane Brophy, Mark Brennan, Jack Fennell, Darren Larkin, Luke O’Brien, Dan Dalton, Martin Hilliard, Paddy Downey, Jo Jo Salmon, Shane Collins. Subs: Nathan Carpenter for O’Brien (32 mins); Kevin Sesela and David Leonard for Salmon and Collins (57); Joey Delaney for Dalton (77); John Breen for Brennan (83).

Referee: Kevin Bryant (Offaly).

*See full report and photos in this week's Westmeath Independent.