Murroe edge past Shelbourne in seven-goal U17 Division 2 Cup final

Under 17 Division Two Carroll Cup Final:

Murroe 4 Shelbourne 3

MURROE made up for their heartbreaking defeat in the final game of the league by capturing the Divisional Cup with a 4-3 win over Shelbourne at Jackman Park on Tuesday evening.

Leading the league all through, Murroe only needed a point to be crowned champions and in their final game, five minutes into injury time, Newport struck the winning goal to be crowned champions. 

It was a devastating result for Murroe and it remained to be seen how they would react to the setback.
Well, we got our answer inside the opening minute when Mattie Walsh took advantage of a hesitant Shels' defence to fire in the opening goal.

Shelbourne barely had time to settle the nerves and they found themselves two goals adrift. 

The excellent O’Shea played forward for top scorer Jamie Long who showed great determination to win the ball before rounding keeper Matthew Collopy to score.

You felt Shelbourne could not have had a worse start but it got even worse when Walsh scored his second of the evening, latching onto a rebound from Tommy Cusack’s shot to make it 3-0.

Murroe were scintillating early on with their front runners Jamie Long; Kallum O'Shea and Mattie Walsh running the show.  
Most teams may have folded at this stage but Shelbourne knuckled down and started to play their way back into the tie. 

The Shelbourne squad which played in the U17 Division 2 Cup final at Jackman Park on Tuesday night

The pace and power of Scott Connolly and Louis van de Wiel were starting to have an effect while defender James Doherty was also to the fore. 

Shels pulled one back before the break following a foul on Dan Collins, Louis van de Wiel slotted home a fine penalty. 

Shels came out after the restart determined to get back in the tie but were dealt a body blow when Long beat the offside trap to make it 4-1.

Again, Shels were not throwing in the towel and Dan Collins made it 4-2 following good work from Ronan Benson and Louis Murphy.

With fifteen minutes remaining Collins got his second of the night when Doherty’s free kick into the area set off a bout of head tennis before the Shels striker got a touch to make it 4-3.

Try as they might, Shels could not break down a Murroe rearguard who were determined not to let this one slip through their fingers.

Murroe: Fintan Sheridan; Luke Hartnett; Evan Daffy; Oisin Holmes; Conor Barry; Cathal Sheridan; Darragh Bourke; Tommy Cusack; Jamie Long; Kallum O'Shea; Mattie Walsh. Subs: Tom Ryan; Ben Ryan; Evan O'Grady; Luke O'Sullivan; Declan O'Sullivan; Tomas Bogliaccini; John O’Keefe.

Shelbourne: Matthew Collopy; Joe Preto; James Doherty; Michael Duggan; Thomas Fitzgerald; John Robinson; Adam McGlynn; Ronan Benson; Scott Connolly; Louis van de Wiel; Daniel Collins. Subs: Louis Murphy; Sean Condon; Sam Shawyer; Darragh O'Shea; Sean Hartigan; Charlie Graham; Joe Patton; Paul O'Donoghue.