BAY ROVERS 3

DRINAGH RANGERS 1

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

RYAN O’Boy’s hat-trick helped Bay Rovers overcome Drinagh Rangers to win the West Cork U18 League title in Lyre.

Having finished level on points at the summit of the table, Bay and Drinagh met in a winner-take-all play-off to decide this season’s U18 league champions.

Drinagh took a first-half lead through Padraic Hegarty, but O’Boy’s second-half hat-trick sealed the title for Bay Rovers.

‘For a club like ours, it is massive to have success at this level,’ Bay Rovers coach Colin Wiseman told The Southern Star.

‘We want to continue this through to our junior team which has been on the cusp of success over the last few years. Hopefully, this can be the catalyst for better things to come.

‘That’s a fantastic Drinagh team we beat tonight. We had three tough games (the other two ending in draws) with them this year.

‘To be honest, before this play-off, either one of us could have won the league and would have been deserving champions. Thankfully, we came out on top.’

Both goalkeepers, Drinagh’s Daire Hurley and Bay’s Conor Hourihane, were called into action amid a frantic start before Joe O’Donovan walloped a volley over Rovers’ crossbar.

The Kealkill club’s response was instant as Charlie Swayne connected with a low cross only to narrowly miss the target. Two consecutive Hourihane stops ensured a lively play-off remained scoreless until the 14-minute mark.

Bay failed to clear a corner and the ball ended up at Padraic Hegarty’s feet on the edge of the penalty area. The Drinagh player thundered a low drive into the bottom corner.

Hegarty could have doubled his side’s lead but for another Hourihane save a minute later. A goal down, Rovers had to withstand a prolonged period of Drinagh pressure as Joe McCarthy and Liam Grace combined to good effect.

Bay Rovers captain Ryan O’Boy accepts the trophy from WCL Chairman Tim O’Donovan. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Rovers tightened up thanks to centre-backs Con Desmond and Sean Wiseman’s combined efforts. At the other end, O’Boy stung Daire Hurley’s hands from a venomous attempt after 23 minutes.

It was Bay who finished the first half strongly, but the lack of a killer pass and quality finish meant Rovers changed ends 1-0 behind.

Despite that deficit, Bay continued to dominate possession at the beginning of the second half. A series of free-kicks and counter attacks had Drinagh defending their 18-yard box and thankful for numerous Sam Mahon and Aodan Murphy clearances.

Drinagh’s ability to break at speed made for an entertaining third quarter. Padraic Hegarty and Oran O’Donovan stretched Bay’s back four as Aodan Murphy and Dominic Placzek went close at either end.

The play-off remained delicately poised prior to a Bay equaliser on 56 minutes.

Fionn Goggin’s attempt to collect a pass inside Drinagh’s penalty box saw Daire Hurley race from his line and bring down the Bay Rovers attacker. Ryan O’Boy stepped up and dispatched the resulting spot kick.

That equaliser kickstarted another exciting spell beginning with Rangers’ Callum Murphy flicking a header inches wide. Placzek had penalty appeals waved away before a succession of Drinagh set-pieces failed to yield a goal.

Bay Rovers struck for a second goal after 76 minutes. The Drinagh defence looked for offside as Placzek released O’Boy, and he guided a low effort beyond Daire Hurley.

Persistent rain hampered Rangers’ efforts to force extra-time and it was their opponents who netted a third and match-winning strike right at the death.

It was fitting that man-of-the-match Ryan O’Boy had the final say. Getting on the end of a move that emanated down Drinagh’s right flank, Bay’s captain curled home a superb shot to complete his hat-trick and cement Rovers’ title success.

Bay Rovers: Conor Hourihan, Kevin Nash, Chris O’Shea, Sean Wiseman, Con Desmond, Ruairi O’Brien, Dominic Placzek, Ryan O’Boy (captain), Ronan Kennan, Charlie Swayne, Fionn Goggin.

Subs: Andrew Ring, Eamon Schultz, Shane O’Brien.

Drinagh Rangers: Daire Hurley, Stephen McCarthy, Sam Mahon, Aodan Murphy, Callum Murphy, Joe O’Donovan, Conor Coakley, Joe McCarthy (captain), Liam Grace, Oran O’Donovan, Padraic Hegarty.

Subs: Ryan O’Donovan, Edvins Kreicbergs, Marc O’Donovan, Mathew Daly, Milo Kinsella.

Referee: Conor McCarthy.