Irish Universities Spillane Cup (Final)
MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY 3
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY 1
By John Hudson
Maynooth University gained some consolation for being on the wrong side of their Harding Cup quarter final dramatic penalty shootout loss to UCD earlier in the week to regroup and go on to capture the Spillane Cup with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Galway University.
The home side will regret the two clear cut early chances they had to take a first half lead.
First off Liam McCormack got past Luke Brady and cut in only to place his finish wide of the far post.
Later with another gilt edged opportunity Ben O’Malley rushed his shot and he too missed the target.
They were made to pay before the break when Maynooth struck with two goals in four minutes.
Left winger Mathew McCarrick was on hand to fire home the opener after goalkeeper Isshak Boussoufa could only palm away a Robert O’Toole drive.
Luke Scanlon then applied the finish to a cross into the box for a second shortly after and Galway looked to have a mountain to climb in the second half.
The task became more difficult on 65 minutes when Eoin Hanley converted a penalty after he was tripped by the Galway ‘keeper.
Eoghan Coyne did net a late consolation for the home side but that goal came much too late and Maynooth took home the cup.
Maynooth University: Sam Clarke; Lewis McKeon, Ade Ogundare, Ciaran Hodanu, Luke Brady; Luke Scanlon, Seb McKiese; Patrick Montgomery, Robert O’Toole, Mathew McCarrick; Eoin Hanley.
Subs: Kian Hogan (for McKeon 50), Evan Gaffney (McCarrick 66), Joshua Salako (for Montgomery 66), Ben Collins (for Hodanu 75).
University of Galway: Isshak Boussoufa; Niall Awogboro, Nojus Radziunaus, Kian Baniassadi, Luke O’Gorman, Enoch Olanase; Ronan Jennings, Stephen Healy; Ben O’Malley, Conall MacGabhann, Liam McCormack.
Subs both used: Roberto Cuevas, Eoin Coyne.
Referee: Kevin Ruane.
