G Cassidy (pen)
The final of the inaugural Banshee Celtic Invitational Cup was held at Rotch Playground in Boston on a very steamy Saturday afternoon contested between Green Briar FC and Quincy side Paddy Barry's FC.
The tone of the game was set with a beautifully timed challenge by Ray Moran as he slid in hard but fair to win a nice ball in the middle of the park. The game continued is such fashion with good quality physical soccer.
The early going belonged to the Green Briar with good exchanges down the left between Requils Morton and Kieran Caldwell, but the final product eluded the Greens.
Collecting the trophy at the Banshee
Paddy Barry's replied with a break away down the left resulting in Fernando DelPieri getting carded for a late challenge. Later the Briar was in trouble again, a beautiful cross from the left was met on the volley but the effort went over from 6 yards.
The best chance of the half fell to Requils Morton. Braima Samati won the ball on the left edge of the area. His stinging shot was parried into the path of Morton but he blazed over agonizingly. He would later follow up with an acrobatic volley from a great cross from Brendan Mitchell.
Brian Claus got into the action early in the second half. A crossing ball from Braima Samati found Claus free at the back post but in a 1 on 1 with the defender he came out second best.
Kieran Caldwell was also finding joy down the left wing. Kieran was unlucky not to set up a goal with a driven cross, only to see it cleared well. Following that he found space for a low shot from the edge of the area which tested the keeper low to his left. He was also unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after he got his marker to make a lunging challenge in the area. The referee waved it off however.
John O'Brien made a very effective cameo appearance later in the half. His high energy play would only last 10 to 15 minutes in the searing heat, but he definitely made an impact. He turned a driven free kick from Gary Cassidy goal-wards only to see clawed to safety and followed that up with a good run and shot which also tested the keeper.
Bringing the trophy back to the Green Briar
As the half progressed and the fatigue was setting in to the Paddy Barry players the pressure built on their goal. Ray Moran shot wide from distance and Requils Morton dragged a shot wide from a close angle.
Paddy Barry's replied with a terrific shot which crashed off the inside of DelPieri's right hand post. And from the ensuing corner a shot would need to be cleared off the line from the defender on the post. With time running out that was definitely a bullet dodged by the Greens after all their dominance.
The deadlock was finally broken on 88 minutes. Kieran Caldwell once again deceived his marker in the box and as he ran by his man was blatantly pulled back and to the ground for the spot kick.
Gary Cassidy demanded the ball and made no mistake with the penalty, dispatching the ball with power to the keeper's left.
As Paddy's pushed for the equalizer they left huge gaps at the back and were lucky not to concede a second when the tired Briar attackers spurned a 4 on 1 breakaway.
One goal was enough in the end as Green Briar FC added to the trophy cabinet for their 1st season by taking the Banshee Celtic Invitational Cup.
Line Up: DelPieri(YC), Mitchell, Lally, Doonan, Clarke, Cassidy(YC), McGuinness, Moran, K Caldwell, Samati, Morton
Subs: Fallon, Lumanyika, Beausang, Joyce, Claus, McLoughlin, Kearns, McCarney, O'Brien
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