Limerick's Fairview Rangers celebrate FAI/IFA President's Junior Cup final success

PRESIDENT'S JUNIOR CUP FINAL:

Fairview Rangers 1 Ardmore FC (Derry) 0

WITH the season less than a month old, Fairview Rangers picked up their second trophy on Saturday when they won the prestigious IFA/FAI President’s Junior Cup beating Derry side Ardmore in the decider at the Showgrounds in Sligo.

The competition is a relatively new affair, beginning in 2018 and it is Fairview’s second time to have their name engraved, having also won the title in 2021.

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With the Tom Hand Cup already in place, following a win over senior side College Corinthians, Fairview went into Saturday’s game full of confidence.

Obviously, the Derry opponents were something of a mystery although they put up the fight Fairview expected.

In the end, a Cian McNamara goal in the 87th minute was enough to seal the issue but the game could well have been put to bed earlier but for a number of fine saves by Ardmore keeper Kristian O'Hagan.

Straight from the off, the Blues took the game to their opponents and went close to an early lead from Jeffery Judge’s effort from a corner kick.

Midway through the half, O’Hagan made a superb save to deny Shane Duggan and at the other end Josh McCarthy saved well to keep out Oran Armstrong’s effort.

Ten minutes from the break O’Hagan was centre stage again saving from Adam Dore and a couple of minutes later Darragh Rainsford was inches wide of goal.

Rainsford had Fairview’s last chance of the opening half minutes from the break but again the Ardmore keeper saved superbly.
Minutes after the restart it was more of the same as Duggan’s goal-bound effort stopped by O’Hagan.

The Limerick side introduced Cian McNamara just before the hour mark and he made an immediate impact with a shot the rocketed off the crossbar.

When the keeper again saved to deny Brian Aherne, it looked like it might be one of those days.

However, with three minutes of normal time remaining Cian McNamara gathered midway inside the Ardmore half and a powerful run through the middle saw him hold off two defenders before firing home from just inside the box to ensure an enjoyable trip back to Limerick.

Fairview Rgs: Josh McCarthy GK; Thomas O'Connor; Blake Curran; Ryan Bowden; Jason Cross; Jeffery Judge; Darragh Rainsford; Shane Duggan; Gbadebo Habideen; Adam Dore; Oleg Vysochan. Subs: Cian McNamara; Brian Aherne; Rubin McCarthy; Jake Dillon; Michael Omojoefodun; Shane Carmody; Aaron Savage