Two Mile Borris cause a major upset in Tipperary Cup soccer final
League champions St Michael's beaten on penalties
Two Mile Borris 1 St Michael's 1 (Two Mile Borris won 5-3 on penalties)
Two Mile Borris overcame league champions St Michael’s to claim the Tipperary Cup in a pulsating final at Cahir Park that went all the way to penalties.
Borris started well and on two minutes a cross from Tony Galvin saw Jake Jordan go close. Saints found their feet, however, and drew first blood on 16 minutes when Jimmy Carr kept a ball in on the right wing and his cross saw Ed O’Dwyer’s header evade the dive of Josh Coady.
Lorcan O’Toole went close for Borris on 20 minutes following a free kick. On 28 minutes a snap volley from Danny Treacy went just wide of goal. Joey Mulcahy was unlucky on the half-hour to see his free kick come back off the post.
READ NEXT: Tipperary restaurant served with closure order following breaches of food safety regulations
Half-time came with Saints a goal up, as the skies darkened on a pitch that appeared quite firm and bumpy at Cahir Park.
On 50 minutes Ed O’Dwyer saw his effort saved at the near post by Coady. On 54 minutes a deep cross from the left managed to evade a touch from Joey Mulcahy and Jimmy Carr. Jimmy Carr robbed goalkeeper Coady on 59 minutes and Joey Mulcahy saw his effort cleared off the line.
Saints were looking the more likely to score but Borris had other ideas and it was 1-1 on 68 minutes when a corner on the right was well flighted and Brendan Connolly headed to the net. Now it was game on at Cahir Park.
Saints struck back with two corners but were forced into a substitution on 75 minutes when Adrian Walsh sustained an injury and was replaced by Faolan Doyle.
Daniel O’Dwyer brought a bit of spark to the attack when introduced in place of David Slattery. It was a frantic finish, with both sides going for the winner as tiredness set in and the rain arrived at Cahir Park.
Saints had the better of matters in extra time and Daniel O’Dwyer’s cross on 95 minutes saw his brother Ed shoot wide of goal. Daniel then got through and took the ball around Coady but his effort was cleared off the line. Paul Breen shot over the bar as the first period came to a close.
Daniel O’Dwyer again went close on 108 minutes. Tiredness and cramp were prevalent in extra time, as no quarter was asked or given by either side.
With extra-time failing to produce a winner, the final went to penalties.
All kicks went in until Faolan Doyle saved a penalty from Tom Ryan but it was ordered to be retaken, and he scored.
Cillian Coonan saw his kick saved for Saints and Borris won the cup on a 5-3 scoreline.