BATTLING BALDOYLE ARE BYRNE CUP WINNERS

BYRNE CUP FINAL: Baldoyle Utd 3-1 Ashbourne United

The battle of the United's as two Division 1 North sides contested the Byrne Cup final at the AUL complex this afternoon.

Ashbourne and Baldoyle and I suppose the former would have been favourites given that they knocked the divison winners Ballymun out in the semi-final.

By DERMOT CLARKE

They found themselves behind though after 7 minutes when Mark Geraghty stooped to head home an Ian Cleary cross from the right. Ashbourne pressed forward but were met with a well organised Baldoyle back four who limited their opportunities.

Things got better for 'Doyle when, after 30 minutes, big Keith Kirwan cut in from the left and held off a challenge before curling an effort to the net from an acute angle.

It looked like Baldoyle might head in for tea in the comfort zone but Ashbourne were awarded a spot-kick in the 38th minute and Chris Doran made it 2-1 from the spot.

As the second half began you felt that the next goal would be vital in determining the destination of the Byrne Cup. In the 6th minute of the half, that goal came and it was Baldoyle that scored it.

Geraghty cushioned a ball to Baz Kennedy and he blasted an unstoppable effort to the net from the edge of the box.

Midway through the half Padraig Drew's cross from the right found Ronnie Walsh at the far stick but his header lacked sufficient power to trouble Ivan Sherlock in the Baldoyle nets.

The pattern remained familiar with Ashbourne unable to come up with that killer pass but a lot of this was down to the well-marshalled back four again where Keith Brazil was particularly impressive and anything that got by was dealt with by Sherlock.

Ashbourne however were handed a big lifeline when Baldoyle had their numbers reduced via a red-card with 15 remaining but still they couldn't manage to break 'Doyle down.

With two minutes remaining Doran found Alan Higgins free in the six-yard box but he seemed to be caught in two minds and the chance went abegging.

It may not have made much difference anyway as Baldoyle ran out 3-1 winners and Brazil was a deserving MOTM on the day.

Ashbourne United: Shane Curley, Darragh Doran, Niall Kinsella, Clive Ross, Patrick Warren, Alan Blaney, Padraig Drew, Dara Doyle, Dimitrijs Mihejevs, Chris Doran, Eoghan McKeigue, Alan Higgins, Trevor Macken, Shane Fitzpatrick, Liam O'Shea, Paul Daly, Ronnie Walsh, Alan Byrne.

Baldoyle United: Ivan Sherlock, Stephen Magee, Mark Murphy, Keith Brazil, Anthony Geraghty, Stephen Kirwan, Mark Kennedy, Noel McGinnity, Keith Kirwan, Stephen Byrne, Finbar Kennedy, Kevin Byrne, Shaheen McQuillan, Rory Douglas, Ian Cleary, Kevin Farrell, Daire Brady, Stephen Keay.

Referee: Brian Hand. Assistants: Wayne Gahan, Glen Geraghty, Shane McCaul(4th).