Herbertstown AFC celebrate thrilling Munster Junior Shield final success

Munster Shield Final:

Tramore FC 1 Herbertstown A 2

HERBERTSTOWN were crowned Munster Shield Champions after a superb 2-1 win over Tramore in Waterford on Saturday afternoon.

In only it’s second year for competition, the tournament is proving a huge hit among the lower league clubs and Herbertstown made sure the Shield stays in Limerick following Ballynanty Rvs success in last season’s inaugural event.

The success was the biggest one achieved by Herbertstown in their 49-year history.

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Their Waterford opponents were a tough proposition, as they showed when they beat Star Rvs in the semi final but they found Herbertstown a different proposition.

I tagged the county side as favourites in the first round as I felt they had big game players and so it proved as they were superb in clinching the first provincial silverware for the club.  

There is great credit due to the club. After developing one of the most exciting youth sides a number of season’s back, they were rocked with large defections. Refusing to feel sorry for themselves the club just did a reboot and Saturday afternoon’s result produces some of the fruit of their labours.

As you expect in a game of such consequences, both sides were rather slow to take any unnecessary risks, thus chances were few and far between early on, with the exception of a Kevin Meade through ball for Bradley McNamara that was curled inches wide of the goal.

The Limerick side slowly took control and got their reward midway through the opening half when Bradley McNamara turned provider putting David Hannon through to fire home from ten yards.

The home side were rocked and would have conceded again on the half hour mark when

Michael Ryan skinned his marker and let fly with a rasper, but the home keeper Ben Collins made a superb save.

Tramore emerged after the break ready for battle and made life difficult for ‘town.

Tramore number 10 Ryan Walsh was a class act and causing the visitors some anxious moments. However, some superb defending saw ‘Town through that passage and after 65 minutes they doubled their advantage.

Darragh Carroll took the ball on the break and slipped a neat ball through for Kevin Meade to run onto, cut past the centre half, takes it past the oncoming keeper before firing into an empty net to shouts from the large travelling support.

It was not job done yet however as David Kilcommin picked out Walsh to pull a goal back with 20 minutes to play.

Tramore went all out in search for the equaliser but were met with equal determination from a resolute ‘town defence pulled a goal back

The final whistle was met with scenes of jubilation for a well-deserved win.

The Man of the match award also came back to Limerick in the hands of Kevin Meade.

Herbertstown: Dylan O'Sullivan; Paddy Bermingham; Kieran McCarthy; Darragh O'Sullivan; Keith O'Connor; Darragh Carroll; Tim O'Keeffe; David Hannon; Kevin Meade; Bradley McNamara; Mike Bob Ryan. Subs: Jamie Ryan; Dan Holten; Sean O'Dea; Oisin O'Grady; Kieran O'Kelly.