Athlone Town win Farren Cup with last gasp goal
Athlone Town 1 Cork City 0
Athlone Town's U-17 team won the Mark Farren Cup final for the first time in dramatic fashion in Athlone this afternoon (Saturday).
Kevin Sweeney's curling delivery from a last-gasp corner went all the way to the Cork City net to secure victory for Athlone.
Having seen off Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic en route to the final, Athlone took another big scalp in the decider on home turf.
A game of very few clear-cut chances looked destined for extra-time until Sweeney struck in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Six minutes of injury time had been indicated but play continued for longer due to further stoppages within that period.
Sweeney was a threat to the Cork defence throughout and his inswinging corner from the left deceived Cork's towering goalkeeper Ryan Delaney and nestled in the far corner of the net.
The best chance of the game had fallen to Cork on 75 minutes and Athlone were indebted to goalkeeper Charlie Raper for preventing the Leesiders from taking the lead. Fine play by substitute Cillian Mulvihill (though there was a suspicion that the ball had gone out of play) set up fellow sub Cian Spillane, but the Athlone keeper did brilliantly to smother Spillane's shot.
Raper also produced a fine save from a well struck shot by Josh Fitzpatrick in the 29th minute.
What was possibly Athlone's best opportunity in open play fell to Albert Edet during the first half, but his header was off target, while Sweeney and Brandon Wykes had shots blocked in the second period.
In the closing moments, after Sweeney had broken the deadlock, Cork City midfielder Cian Carmody picked up a second yellow card and was therefore sent off.
Afterwards, amid jubilant scenes, Athlone captain Noah Flynn was presented with the Mark Farren Cup by Republic of Ireland U-19 head coach Tom Mohan.
Athlone midfielder Eoin Sheeran was chosen as the recipient of the official player of the match award. The Athlone defence also deserved plenty of plaudits, with centre-backs Jason Ukatu and Flynn thwarting many Cork attacks, while full-backs Cameron Keighery and Conor Bracken often joined the attack to good effect.
Athlone Town: Charlie Raper, Cameron Keighery, Conor Bracken, Noah Flynn (captain), Jason Ukatu, Eoin Sheeran, Scott Clynes, Martin Scally, Brandon Wykes, Albert Edet, Kevin Sweeney. Subs used: Roy Lawlor for Edet (48 mins); Hubert Zakrzewski for Clynes (inj., 93).
Cork City: Ryan Delaney, Patryk Swieczka Andrzejczak, Matthew Kiernan, Callum Honohan, Sam Bailey, Cian Carmody, Josh Fitzpatrick, Dara McCormick, Daniel Leonard, Eanna Fitzgerald (captain), Liam Murray. Subs used: Cian Spillane for McCormick (66 mins); Cillian Mulvihill for Leonard (73); Noah Sowinski for Kiernan (85).
Referee: Paul Malone.