2009 Cup

The Story of the 2009 Bernard Hayes Travel West Cork Over33 Cup

Ardfield upset the odds to defeat the much fancied Drinagh Rangers and win the 2009 Bernard Hayes Travel West Cork Over33 Cup.

The Over33 Cup tournament kicked off on June 24th with four quarter final ties down for decision. In the opening fixture Skibbereen had home advantage for the visit of Drinagh Rangers in the Baltimore Road. There were no goals in a tight opening half but Chris O’Brien pounced to put the home side one up with an assured finish midway through the second period. Skibb looked set for a place in the last four until five minutes from the end when Danny McQueen netted to level the scores. Drinagh had a great chance to win the tie with the award of a penalty right on full time. Gary Minihane denied the visitors with a cracking save and when extra time failed to produce a winner the quarter final went to penalties. Vince Collins converted the winning spot kick to send Drinagh through 4-3 after a nerve-tingling shoot-out.

There was a derby quarter final in Ballyvackey where Clonakilty Old Boys and Clonakilty Masters clashed for a place in the semi finals. A disappointing game ensued where both sides cancelled on another out. Chances were at a premium throughout and it took something extra special to decide the outcome of the tie. Artur Andrzeyewski unleashed a terrific shot from 25 yards out which soared into the top corner of the net for the only goal of the game and booked Clon old Boy’s berth in the next round.

Rosscarbery entertained Courtmacsherry in Rosscarbery in a quarter tie dominated by the visitors. Courtmac ran out convincing 3-0 winners thanks to goals from John O’Donovan, Dave Philpot and Brian Whelton. The shock of the Bernard Hayes Travel cup competition came in Mohona where the previously unbeaten Dunmanway Town were sensationally knocked out by bottom of the league table Ardfield. Wayne Howarth fired home the only goal of a close game scoring shortly before the interval to send the Carrigroe club into the semi finals.

The semi-final clash in Canon Crowley Park pitted League Champions Clonakilty Old Boys against second placed Drinagh Rangers. The Old Boy’s 2-0 victory over Rangers earlier in the season gave them the slightest edge heading into this eagerly anticipated clash. The home side failed to read the script and made it through to the cup final following a narrow 1-0 win. Martin Cronin found the net from close range in the first half and it turned out to be the only goal of a tight game. Despite being reduced to ten men shortly after the resumption Drinagh defended manfully for the remainder of the tie. A combination of poor Old Boys finishing and dogged Drinagh defending earned the Cannon Crowley Park club a deserved spot in the Over33 Cup final.

Courtmacsherry travelled to Carrigroe buoyed by their recent 2-0 league victory at home to Dunmanway Town and entered the second semi-final as favourites. Ardfield’s recent run of good form meant the home side were still in with a great chance of making the final. As it turned out the semi-final saw Ardfield continue their terrific run in the knockout competition by comfortably dispatching Courtmacsherry 2-0. Aidan Whelton opened the scoring shortly before the interval to hand the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead. To their credit Courtmacsherry made a fight of it but couldn’t force an equaliser. Aidan Whelton booked his side’s passage into the cup decider with his second of the afternoon shortly before the full time whistle and Ardfield went through 2-0.

Drinagh Rangers enjoyed home advantage for the Bernard Hayes West Cork Over33 Cup final with Ardfield on August 1st. A huge attendance was on hand to witness the cup decider on the immaculately prepared Canon Crowley Park playing surface. Rangers began positively and forced a series of corners which the Ardfield defence, superbly marshalled by Noel and Jonathan O'Donovan, managed to clear. The Carrigroe club soaked up all the early Drinagh pressure and took the lead after 12 minutes with a spectacular goal from midfielder Alec Butler. The Ardfield player executed an audacious chip from 25 yards out that gave goalkeeper Colm O'Driscoll no chance to put Ardfield 1-0 ahead.

Ardfield continued to pour forward and had shouts for a penalty waved away when Aidan Whelton was knocked over in the penalty area. Drinagh responded with a Michael Doolan header in their next attack. Whelton continued to torment the Rangers back four but the home side maintained their composure but still went in 1-0 behind at the interval.

The second half proved a much scrappier affair until Mike Doolan was fouled in the Ardfield penalty area and won his side a penalty. Kieran Duggan stepped up but was denied by Kieran Calnan from the ensuing spot kick. That penalty miss appeared to deflate the Drinagh players for a period and Ardfield's defence grew in confidence heading into the final minutes. Drinagh simply couldn't find a way past a valiant Ardfield defence. The home side had loud shouts for a penalty refused late on but Ardfield held out to deservedly win the 2009 Bernard Hayes West Cork Over33 Cup.

2009 Bernard Hayes Travel West Cork Over33 Cup winners - Ardfield: Kieran Calnan, Pearse O’Sullivan, Noel O’Donovan, Jonathan O’Donovan, Damien Dooley, Steve Frost, Jim Ahern, Wayne Howarth, Alec Butler, Diarmuid Keohane, Aidan Whelton, Billy Crowley, Denis O’Donovan, Simon Whelband, Myles Sweeney and Dominic Whelton.

2009 Bernard Hayes Travel - West Cork Over33 Cup Results

Quarter Finals: Skibbereen 1 Drinagh Rangers 1 – Drinagh won 4-3 on pens, Clonakilty Masters 0 Clonakilty Old Boys 1, Dunmanway Town 0 Ardfield 1 and Rosscarbery 0 Courtmacsherry 3.

Semi Finals: Drinagh Rangers 1 Clonakilty Old Boys 0, Ardfield 2 Courtmacsherry 0.

Final: Ardfield 1 Drinagh Rangers 0

GMC