Waters’ penalty sinks Salthill

CORK CITY won their third FAI Umbro Youth Cup in dramatic circumstances at Turner’s Cross yesterday, Robert Waters’ 94th minute penalty breaking the hearts of a very unlucky Salthill Devon.

It made for a horrendous weekend on Leeside for the Galway club, their U16s succumbing 3-1 to Cork club Greenwood in Saturday’s national decider at the same venue.

Salthill just about shaded the contest but a lack of fitness ended up being their downfall.

As City winger Willie Heffernan broke into the box on the left hand side in the fourth minute of added time, right-back Evan Preston Kelly’s tired tackle left referee Noel Purcell with no option but to point to the spot. Waters easily slotted the penalty, sending keeper Ronan Forde the wrong way.

City started the match well too, John Slattery’s corner from the right managing to sneak in with a little bit of help from Forde.

The Munster Youth champions kept a grip on proceedings but failed to add to their advantage despite shots from Heffernan and Waters and an Eamonn Fitzgerald header in the 20th minute which went just over.

And then, with Salthill having worked their way back into the game, striker Gerry Dolan had the Galway boys deservedly level on the half hour mark.

The Cork City defence was marshalled well throughout by captain Kevin Long, who came on for the senior side against St Pat’s two weeks ago. However, Ger Cheevers’ corner caused panic on this occasion and, when they failed to clear, Dolan was on hand to head home.

Seven minutes later, Brian Gaffney’s free had to be palmed away by Ryan Price and then the left winger’s resulting corner caused more confusion in the City box but centre-forward Brian O’Grady shot over.

The second half was open and, at times, end-to-end but no noteworthy chance fell the way of either side until that crucial moment deep into injury-time.

CORK CITY: R Price; A Sheehan, K Long (capt), E Fitzgerald, J Slattery; K O’Leary, R Waters, L Collins, W Heffernan; E Kilcommons, R Morrissey.

Subs: S Stokes for O’Leary, 60; K Kennelly for Kilcommons, 75.

SALTHILL DEVON: R Forde; E Preston Kelly, G Sheedy, C Larkin, G O’Cualainn; G Cheevers, E Duffy (capt), F Kerrigan, B Gaffney; G Dolan, B O’Grady.

Subs: D Horgan for Cheevers, 64; B Conlon for O’Grady, 72; T Bradshaw for Kerrigan, 82.

Referee: Noel Purcell (Waterford).