2003/04
Limerick Junior Soccer Chronicles
2003/04
Inter County Youth Final
Limerick Youths crowned champions in penalty shoot out Dublin League 1 Limerick D.L.1 (Limerick won 4-3 on pens aet) Limerick Youth football is on a further high this Monday morning as the Limerick Inter County youth side annexed the Inter County Youth Cup with victory over the Dublin District league on their own patch in a game that required a penalty shoot out to separate the sides. With this win following on Wembley Rovers winning the FAI Under 17 Cup, FAI vice –president, David Flood was forced to admit that Limerick Youth soccer was never in such high standing nationally as he presented the cup to Limerick captain, Sean Flanagan. For manager Malachy Cosgrove it was fourth time lucky as he was manager of the side on three previous occasions when they lost at this stage of the competition. Derek Braddish and Gary Murphy combined with Malachy Cosgrove to form a management trio that went about their task quietly but effectively. Dublin started the game brightly but a crunching tackle by Alan Daly after only four minutes gave the Dublin side notice that Limerick would be challenging for any 50/50 tackles. Liam O’Flynn and Gary Hannon were a tower of strength in the heart of the defence and both were called into action in the opening minutes to thwart dangerous Dublin breaks. Limerick had a claim for what looked a definite penalty on 23 minutes but the Referee waved play on as Sean Flanagan picked himself off the ground. Tyrrell went close for Dublin after 30 minutes but shot wide when faced one-on-one with Hartigan and the same player picked up a yellow card for a crude challenge on Hannon minutes later. The Dublin side continued to adapt a physical approach to the game but Limerick maintained their discipline and Shepard was lucky just before the break that his punishment for a tackle on Clarke was yellow not red. Within a minute of the restart Dublin had taken the lead when Doyle sent Tyrrell through and he chipped the ball over Hartigan as he emerged from his line for a good goal. Limerick were back on terms within five minutes. James Hayes picked out Flanagan in the box and again the Dublin defence fouled and a penalty kick ensued. Flanagan recovered to sent the keeper the wrong way and level the scores. Midway through the half Dean Earls replaced Alan Daly, who had literally run himself into the ground. Colm Carroll had a good shot turned out for a corner and at the other end Hartigan made a good save from Shepard. With two tired sides Extra time was played at a slower pace. Chris Barber was sent off for Dublin for a second bookable offence and Shepard hit the woodwork with an effort in the first period while Flanagan and Bourke had a couple of chances late in the game but there was no further score. The penalty shoot out proved a nerve wrecking experience for all involved. Thomas Clarke settled the Limerick side when he scored the opening kick. Dublin leveled through Brian Doyle before Sean Flanagan, deadly accurate from the dead ball put the ball wide of the post. When Tyrell scored Dublin’s second things looked bleak in the Limerick camp. Niall Butterfield and Shepard traded scores to leave the score at 3-2 in favour of Dublin. Liam O’Flynn scored his kick and Ian Maher saw his well taken kick blocked by a brilliant save from Hartigan when he dived low to level the game. David Moloney scored a sweetly struck shot for Limerick and the pressure was now on Dublin for the final kick. Brian King stepped up but again Hartigan dived full length to make a brilliant stop to secure victory. JJ Hartigan; Crucial save Limerick DL; JJ Hartigan (Corbally), David Moloney (Janesboro), Thomas in penalty shoot out Clarke (Wembley Rvs), Liam O’Flynn (Corbally Utd), Gary Hannon (Fairview), James Hayes (Fairview), Alan Daly (Fairview), Ger Bourke (Mungret Reg), John Lyne (Fairview), Colm Carroll (Corbally), Sean Flanagan (Hill Celtic), Reserves, Dean Earls (Corbally), Niall Butterfield (Corbally), Eoin Mullins (Fairview), Edward Brazier (Janesboro), Cian Hunt (Corbally), Barry O’Grady (Geraldines) and Darren Glasheen (Wembley Rvs).