IT Carlow retains CFAI Umbro Cup

IT Carlow 1-0 WIT

Waterford United midfielder Ben Ryan was the hero for IT Carlow as his second half goal was enough to secure a 1-0 win against WIT in the final of this year's CFAI Umbro Cup in Tallaght Stadium.

WIT handed IT Carlow an early opportunity as they conceded a penalty after just six minutes. Ben Ryan was fouled in the penalty area by goalkeeper Cormac O’Brien and the referee pointed to the spot on the advice of his assistant. Barry O’Mahony stepped up but O’Brien got down to his right to mark a smart save.

Brian Nolan threatened first for WIT, but he couldn’t get his long range strike on target after David Cooley’s corner kick.

Carlow had another great chance for the opener after 18 minutes when Barry O’Mahony fed Andy Mulligan, but his shot went across O’Brien’s goal and harmlessly wide. 

Gary Shaw headed over from Noel Heffernan’s cross before WIT had a glorious chance for the opener. A long ball from the right found Ian Goulding in on goal but his scuffed strike was saved by Carlow keeper Craig Sexton.

WIT had a another chance on the stroke of half-time, as Craig Maguire held of three Carlow players before playing in Mark O’Keeffe, but he strike was well blocked by the retreating defenders. 

WIT keeper Cormac O’Brien had to be alert at the start of second half as he kept his side in the game. Firstly he was out well to stop Ray Foy from getting to Neil Heffernan’s through ball, before pulling off a superb save to his right to prevent a powerful 30-yard strike from Carlow’s Connor O’Keefe from nestling in the bottom corner a minute later.

IT Carlow broke the deadlock just past the hour mark through Waterford United winger Ben Ryan. Substitute Adam Hanlon beat John Frost for pace down the right before crossing for Ryan to brilliantly head past Cormac O’Brien from six yards. 
 

IT Carlow should have put the game beyond WIT with 12 minutes to go as Ryan played Hanlon through on goal down the right but he blazed his great chance over the crossbar. 

As WIT pushed for the equaliser, Carlow almost put the game beyond them. Ryan found Hanlon but his low strike rebounded back off the butt of the post. 

WIT continued to push for the equaliser but couldn’t find a way past a resolute IT Carlow defence. 

IT Carlow: Craig Sexton; Connor O’Keefe, James Darmody, Jamie Carr, James Scallan, Barry O’Mahony, Neil Heffernan (Eric Molloy 91), Gary Shaw (Adam Hanlon 61), Ben Ryan, Andy Mulligan, Ray Roy.

 

Waterford IT: Cormac O’Brien, Connor Morrissey, John Frost, Adam Heaslip (Gary Delaney 68), Dylan Mernagh, Brian Nolan, David Cooley (A.J Lehane 78), Conor Coad, Mark O’Keeffe, Craig Maguire, Ian Goulding.