Extra-time penalty sees Glebe North past Ringmahon Rangers
Anthony Whitehead of Ringmahon Rangers has a shot on goal despite the attention of Ahu Obhakhan of Glebe North during the FAI Intermediate Cup Final between Glebe North FC of the Leinster Senior League and Ringmahon Rangers FC of the Munster Senior League at Weaver's Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Ringmahon Rangers missed out on lifting their first FAI Intermediate Cup final by losing a five-goal extra-time thriller to Glebe North on Sunday afternoon.
A Reece Waldron penalty on the stroke of the first period ending proved decisive as the Cork side couldn’t muster another late equaliser to force a penalty shoot-out.
Substitute Aaron Ahern has earned Ringers an extra-time lifeline by hooking the ball home two minutes into stoppage time to make it 2-2.
Second half Glebe goals by Ryan O’Shea and Oisin Coleman had overturned the deficit they faced at the interval through Evan Galvin’s first-minute breakthrough.
Winning the toss for home advantage offered Balbriggan-based Glebe the chance of filling their side of Drogheda’s Weavers Park but it was the red and black dominated main stand – with boxer Spike O’Sullivan among their masses – who were first to find their voice.
Just 55 seconds were clocked when Galvin slipped in at the back post to stoop low and apply a diving header to a teasing right-wing cross.
Issa Kargbo was inches from adding a second midway through the half, receiving a crossfield pass from his fellow winger Galvin, only to smack his angled shot off the post.
Waldron had threatened for Glebe by forcing Eric Grimes into a save which he spilled but the Ringers were still comfortable leaders at the break.
That all changed through another goal within a minute of tip-off. Former Dundalk talent Coleman had endured a quiet first-half for the Leinster Senior League outfit but came alive when the ball was squared across the goalmouth for him to sidefoot home the equaliser from eight yards.
Galvin remained lively, squeezing between two defenders to narrowly head over but Glebe snatched the second and what proved to be the winner just past the hour.
Striker Ahu Obhakan had just returned to his feet following treatment but reacted first to a left-wing cross by Roy Kierans.
He had the awareness to chest the ball into the path of Ryan O’Shea dashing in from the right and he drilled his volley into the corner beyond Grimes.
Former league winning winger Ryan Brennan has lined out this season as a centre-back and, while the Ringmahon fans mocked him as a Dundalk reject, his injury-enforced withdrawal with 17 minutes left offered them hope.
Captain Anthony McAlavey drew a one-handed save from Aaron Kiernan before substitute Cameron Harlson almost headed in from the resultant corner kick.
Harlson would play his part in the leveller, nodding on Adam Delurey lofted free-kick for Ahern to stay onside and stab the ball high into the net.
Another one of Aidan Foley’s springers off the bench, Alan Greaney, burst clear in extra-time but saw his shot blocked by the advancing Kiernan.
Glebe then went straight down the field to pose danger, leading Adam O’Callaghan to bundle Ryan O’Shea over marginally inside the box. Waldron stepped up to Grimes the wrong way to reclaim Glebe’s lead.
There were plenty of aerial scuds for Glebe to defend and Ringmahon’s cause was diluted by Jamie O’Sullivan getting sent-off for committing a late-player foul.
A Kiernan; C McCann, C Cluskey-Kelly, K Brennan (R Connor 73), R Kierans; G Smith, N Barrett; R Waldron, O Coleman (O Hamzat 85), R O’Shea; A Obhakan (G Simic 112).
E Grimes; P Keane (R Long 116), C McCarthy, A Whitehead, A Delurey; R Kenny (A Ahern 76), J O’Sullivan, I Kargbo (A O’Callaghan 76), A McAlavey, E Galvin (C Harlson 81); J Cairns (A Greaney 97).
Vincent Coonan
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