Munster Senior Cup Final Report: Cork City 4 - 2 Wilton United (AET)

Cork City won the Munster Senior Cup for the first time in ten years tonight defeating Munster Senior League Division One side Wilton United in Turners Cross.

Of more importance to the current league leaders will be the well being of star defender Ryan Delaney, who appeared to injure his knee on 36 minutes.

They made hard work of it against a side that finished eighth in Division One and were priced at 22/1 at the start of the game.

The final result will look harsh on a Wilton side who gave everything during the game, while extra time will be beneficial for City as they have plenty of cobwebs after their short break on the evidence of tonight’s display.

The opening ten minutes saw little of goalmouth action save for a Shane Griffin effort that was disallowed for offside.

Evan Murphy, who had a very good game at the heart of defence for Wilton along with Kieran O’Mahony, prevented a near-certain goal on 15 minutes when getting a foot to a Buckley shot.

O’Connor stepped up on 18 minutes and floated a free kick over the opposition wall into the net past the outstretched dive of Brian Cronin.

The next talking point of the half saw Delaney fall awkwardly under a tackle from Shane O’Connell. The centre half emerged in the second half with the aid of crutches.

City could have doubled their lead on 43 minutes when Murphy headed against his bar before Wilton they equalised a minute before the break. A corner by Robbie Walsh was played short to Neal Horgan who layed it off to the inrushing Daly to fire low underneath Alan Smith.

Early in the second half O’Connell had a goalmouth scramble cleared by City but they would work the ball up the field by way of a superb pass by John Kavanagh to Conor Ellis. His powerful shot was batted away by Cronin and it fell to Buckley, who drilled the ball into the top corner from 18 yards.

Yet Wilton played with a better organisation than many of the teams that have turned up at the Cross this year and they equalised through O’Regan. Philip Ryan's superb cross fell to the winger, who drove the ball low into the net.

The rest of the half saw City apply pressure but they were getting nowhere despite having 12 corners during the 90 minutes and the game went to extra time.

City broke the deadlock inside 25 seconds when Achille Campion flicked the ball over the advancing Cronin. Cronin then made a superb save stopping Preston-bound Sean Maguire from close range.

With the end of the first half of the extra ten approaching, substitute Alec Byrne put the result beyond doubt, finishing from close range after Maguire had seen his earlier shot saved by Cronin.

All that was left was for John Dunleavy to lift the trophy and claim City's first Munster Senior Cup title since 2008.

Cork City: Alan Smith; John Kavanagh (Sean Maguire 74), Adam O’Sullivan (Alec Byrne 91), Ryan Delaney (John Dunleavy 36), Shane Griffin; Greg Bolger, Garry Buckley; Kevin O’Connor (Stephen Dooley 74); Conor Ellis, Stephen Beattie, Achille Campion.

Booked: Conor McCormack, Mark McNulty.

Wilton United: Brian Cronin; John McCleverly (Jamie Kent 85), Evan Murphy, Alan Healy, Kieran O’Mahony, Philip Ryan; Colm O’Regan, Steve Daly (Kevin O’Mullane 68), Neal Horgan (Jason Meehan 77), Robbie Walsh (Dylan Foley 95); Shane O’Connell (Denis Young 74).

Subs not used: Dean Ring, Danny Gibson, Colin Lemass.

Booked: O’Regan (65).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan

Attendance: 800 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the match: Alan Healy (Wilton United).