Okonkwo fulfils Destiny as nine-man Corinthians win maiden FAI Intermediate Cup crown
College Corinthians' Destiny Okonkwo celebrates his goal against Ringmahon Rangers during the FAI Intermediate Cup final at Turner's Cross. Pic: Eddie O'Hare
Nine-man College Corinthians have won the FAI Intermediate Cup for the first time ever following a dramatic 2-1 AET victory over a heavily-fancied Ringmahon Rangers outfit in front of 2,624 spectators at Turner’s Cross.
Destiny Okonkwo got the winning goal in extra-time with a breakaway strike, and that only tells part of a story that began with Killian Cooper scoring and Glenn Towler equalising late on for the favourites.
Gary Hackett’s side had to play for 80 minutes with 10 men after the dismissal of Adam Walsh and their task was complicated when Ian Turner saw red late on.
Ethon Varian was also sent down the tunnel, on a day when Ringmahon Rangers tried to avenge their loss to Glebe North in last year’s final.
Corinthians were underdogs, and out to lift the trophy for the first time after losing the decider twice in the 1990s.
Hackett’s team immediately attacked and took the lead in just the third minute when Cooper turned in a low Eric Cunningham cross at the back post.
Ringmahon Rangers responded by taking control of the pace of the game, and with that came a number of chances for Aidan Foley’s side.
Their cause was helped by the 9th-minute dismissal of Walsh after the defender picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Towler.
Corinthians pulled back in an attempt to keep Ringmahon at bay, and their next advance ended with former Cork City player Mark O’Sullivan going off with a shoulder injury in the 15th minute.
Okonkwo came on, and the striker immediately made his name known by dropping back and running with seemingly unlimited energy.
The Ringers kept plugging away and the chance to draw level before the break came from a low Varian cross and Cunningham got this away for Corinthians.
Ringmahon injected fresh energy into their team at the break by replacing Gearoid Morrissey with two-time FAI Intermediate Cup winner Nathan Broderick.
Corinthians went up a gear to deal with this new level of intensity, with nine players behind the ball at all times.
This forced Ringmahon to go long at times, with one of these attempts a stunning strike from McAlavey that went just over at the St Anne’s End.
The Ringers finally found space in the 81st minute and with that came the equaliser, with Towler turning in a low O’Donnell cross.
That ignited a spark and things exploded with the dismissal of Turner on the Corinthians team and Varian on the Ringmahon side.
Extra-time was a red and black affair, but once again, there was very little penetration.
Corinthians soaked up the pressure and broke in the 105th minute after a shot from Whitehead was picked up on the edge of the box.
Craig Donnellan played Okonkwo through, and Christopher McCarthy's slip gave the striker a clean look at the posts. The forward steadied himself, rounded Eric Grimes and slotted in to make it 2-1.
The second period of extra-time began with Jack Anthony standing his ground and stopping an off-balance shot from Dean O’Shea on the goal-line as Alan Happi tried to get to the ball.
Gavin Ryan stood up when Corinthians needed him the most, with the goalkeeper making a string of excellent saves to keep Ringmahon out late on. The highlight was came in the 117th minute when a McAlavey strike was denied from going into the top corner.
Andrew Neville and Eoghan Murphy also stood up during this intense period, and that was enough to make sure the FAI Intermediate Cup left Turner’s Cross wrapped in blue and white ribbons.
Gavin Ryan; Ian Turner, Adam Walsh, Andrew Neville, Eoghan Murphy, Craig Donnellan, Keelan Crowley (Jack Anthony 90), Ross McCarthy (David O’Leary 90), Mark O’Sullivan (Destiny Okonkwo 19), Eric Cunningham, Killian Cooper.
Eric Grimes; Glenn Towler (Alan Happi 85), Adam Delurey (Darragh O’Shea 73), Christopher McCarthy, Anthony O’Donnell, Anthony Whitehead, Gearoid Morrissey (Nathan Broderick 51), Roy Kenny (Jack O’Sullivan 80), Jack Cairns (Ciaran Grifin 66), Anthony McAlavey, Ethon Varian.
Declan Troy
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