St Peter's secure final place with local derby victory
St Peter's 3 Willow Park 1
By John Dingle
St Peter's eased into the Paddy Cotter Cup final following this semi-final victory over local rivals Willow Park at the TUS Grounds in Athlone last Sunday afternoon.
The Saints had little difficulty in getting past a disappointing Willow Park team who are sitting on top of the Senior Division table, six points ahead of St Peter's, though the latter have a game in hand.
There was just one goal in the opening half but a second goal just after the hour mark better reflected the Saints' dominance. A third goal with a quarter of an hour remaining ended the tie as a contest while a score in stoppage time was mere consolation for Colin Fortune's men.
With a stiff crossfield breeze making playing conditions difficult, the lead goal was not long in arriving. There were just eight minutes played when Gary Kelly shot to the net following a Johnny Kiernan free.
The Saints never looked back thereafter and Willow had young goalkeeper Charlie Raper to thank for keeping them in contention up to the break.
Raper’s first good save saw him push behind Gary Kelly’s strike after 14 minutes. Kiernan was next to be denied by the keeper who tipped over his shot with 28 minutes gone. Kiernan then turned provider to set up Nenad Lazic whose effort was blocked by Raper.
It was proving to be all one way traffic as Peter's dominated and Daragh Concannon had a rare chance for Willow just before the break but shot straight at Darcy Lawless. The Saints were on top in all sectors but Willow lost one of their aces when Tommy Hurley went off injured earlier on. Jimmy Flanagan tried hard but got little change from the Saints rearguard.
Lazic had the last chance of the half which Raper saved and there was still a glimmer of hope for Willow when the half-time whistle sounded. The Saints had been on top but only had a single score to show for all their dominance.
The early exchanges when play resumed were evenly contested as Willow looked to get back into contention for a place in the final. Gary Kelly had a shot saved while Flanagan fired over at the other end. Clive Harris was out of luck when his shot from Adam Dowling’s left wing cross hit the butt of the upright, while substitute Dylan Stewart was off target shortly after joining the action.
The lead was doubled after 63 minutes from a corner kick. Harris delivered the ball into the penalty area and Ian Dempsey rose to head the ball to the net. The relief in the St Peter's camp was obvious.
As the Saints looked to kill off the tie, Stewart then headed wide. Willow were still causing some moments of danger as they looked to gain a lifeline. Lawless did well to push behind a free kick from Concannon as a second corner kept up the pressure on the Peter's defence.
The tie was ended as a contest with a superb score after 74 minutes. Kiernan showed some good skill on the right to create an opening and the finish was top class as the ball was fired over the helpless Raper to the net.
The Saints were now marching into the final as their dominance was finally rewarded on the scoreboard. Indeed, they could have added to their lead with four minutes remaining but substitute Cian Fallon's strike was put behind. Scott Delaney even had time to venture forward from defence but the centre-half was denied a goal by Raper as the good approach work went unrewarded.
There was some consolation for Willow in stoppage time when they took the bare look off the scoreboard. Bryan Hughes had a shot blocked by Lawless but James Fortune was on hand to tuck away the rebound. It was one of the only bright moments on an afternoon to forget for the title chasing outfit who must now concentrate on winning the league crown.
Mark McConnell’s men now have the chance of collecting the first major silverware of the season when they face fellow Senior Division team Mullingar Town in the final. Mullingar ran riot against Ballinahown on a 5-0 scoreline in the other last four tie, played in Moate - see here for match report.
Man of the match: Adam Dowling (St Peter's). It was a relatively easy afternoon for the Saints defence with Willow well held and solid full back Dowling also found time to push forward whenever the occasion allowed.
St Peter's: Darcy Lawless, Niall Scullion, Adam Dowling, Stephen Barr, Scott Delaney, Luke Kelly, Johnny Kiernan, Ian Dempsey, Gary Kelly, Clive Harris, Nenad Lazic. Subs: Dylan Stewart for Lazic (53 mins); John McCrossan for Scullion (67); Cian Fallon and John Duffy for Harris and G Kelly (78).
Willow Park: Charlie Raper, Mickey Kelly, Mark O’Connor, Conor Maher, Declan Fallon, Kevin Dunne, Daragh Concannon, Bryan Hughes, James Fortune, Tommy Hurley, James Flanagan. Subs: Bryan McCormack for Hurley (32 mins); Mark Nicholson for Maher (64); Shane Duffy for Kelly (77).
Referee: Alan Dunne (Laois)