BUCKO'S BRACE BRINGS ABOUT A DOUBLE FOR DOYLE AND USHER

CHAMPIONS: Usher Celtic completed a league and cup double when winning the Lummy O’Reilly Cup at Porterstown on Sunday afternoon

Lummy O'Reilly Cup Final:

Usher Celtic 3-0 Finglas United

The Lummy O'Reilly Cup final pitched the newly-crowned Division 1A and IB Senior Sunday LSL champs together, as Usher Celtic took on Finglas United on the Porterstown Road home of St. Mochtas.

Usher the probable favourites, but it was Finglas who were quickest from the blocks and in the 7th minute big Ross Buckley collected a long punt from the back, cut inside on the right and fired a scud that whistled past the far stick.

By DERMOT CLARKE

Three later however Celtic were in front. Graham Curran with a 40 yard ping from right to left that landed on Gary Gannon's toe and he took it outside a defender before rolling it inside the far post.

USHER CELTIC: excellent display to claim the Lummy O’Reilly Cup

Finglas continued to press however and Dean Ivory was causing headaches. On 20 he broke through the Usher rearguard abd his curling effort looked destined for the top corner but Declan Brennan intervened with a saving header that went for a corner.

From that Troy Owens corner Buckley almost found the net with a near post flick but Karl Lynam managed to scramble it to safety. Ivory was at it again on 31 but he seemed to scuff his effort when sent in by Robbie McGuinness. On 41 Kane Lee blocked a clearance and sent Buckley in again, he rounded one but Lynam was equal to it once again.

FINGLAS UNITED: fine display but had to give second best to their opponents on the day.

Just before the break the other Buckley, Jordan from the house of Usher gave us a 'don't forget about me,' moment as he rose to contest a clearance, won the second ball, skipped by two and poked by the 'keeper but the ball was cleared from the line.

Usher went in a goal ahead, Finglas had the better of it and Darren McDonnell had a superb first half at left full for Usher.

JORDAN BUCKLEY: two goal return from the lethal predator.

In the 56th minute an excellent Usher move up right as Paul Keane found Buckley who flicked into Curran's path. He found Gannon who couldn't get his shot away quickly enough.

On the hour mark Ivory got in behind again but again the head of Brennan saved the day. Midway through the half Jordan Kavanagh took a heavy touch and Gannon blocked the ball into Buckley's path. he took it wide past the keeper and clipped to the net off the right post.

On 75 the same man wrapped it up when Josh McMahon raced into the box after a long punt from the back, he played it to Buckley who calmly lifted the ball over Alan McLaren and into the net.

Usher went a bit 'Hollywood' in the last 15. They might have scored another but 4-0 would have been harsh on Finglas. Indeed 3-0 was harsh enough. A deserved Lummy O'Reilly Cup win for Wes Doyle's men however and a league and cup double.

Jordan Buckley was awarded man-of-the-match and Finglas United can be mighty proud of their achievements this year also.

Usher Celtic: Karl Lynam, Paul Keane, Darren McDonnell, Declan Brennan, Leroy Staunton, Mark Higgins, Graham Curran, Josh McMahon, Jordan Buckley, Gary Gannon, Adam McMahon. Subs: Anthony Grouse, Calvin Douglas, Wayne Waldron, Stephen Doyle, Robert Martin, Barry Fox, Gareth Kilkenny.
Finglas United: Alan Mclaren, Robbie McGuinness, Daniel Howard, Jordan Kavanagh, Sean Tierney, Cian Malone, Dean Ivory, Craig Braddell, Ross Buckley, Kane Lee, Troy Owens. Subs: Craig Foster, Shaun Murray, Jordan Wright, Dylan Kelly, Paul McMillan, Owen Humphrey.