Blarney Utd Leeside 2000 replay

MURPHY'S STOUT AOH CUP FINAL - BLARNEY UNITED V LEESIDE - THE REPLAY - TURNER'S CROSS - THIS FRIDAY 7.00pm.



AOH PREVIEW

This Friday evening will see new AOH Cup champions emerge at Turner's Cross. Blarney Utd and Leeside, the top two in the Murphy's Stout Premier League, turned in a thrilling one hundred and ten minutes in their first meeting and it ended all square.



This evening's second meeting will produce a winner for sure as extra time and penalties will be in operation if necessary. And there will be a new name on the 49 year old plinth for neither club has triumphed previously.



Blarney had the edge in midfield in the first game and that restricted the Leeside strikeforce. Skipper Dave Moynihan tackled and passed well and had willing runners in the shape of skilful youngsters Paddy Crowley and Raymond O'Leary, both of whom played in recent years with the AUL youths, while the experienced Carl Browne also worked hard and was on hand to net the opener.



Leeside skipper John Corcoran struggled to make an impact, as did Mick Mooney. Only Frank Horgan, who did set up the equaliser, looked capable of breaking the Blarney stranglehold. Jeremy O'Sullivan did get in to net the equaliser but generally he had his hands full in the midfield battle.



Moynihan limped out of the action after an hour and the Blarney performance dipped dramatically and indeed it was after his departure that Leeside scored. But Blarney, even without Moynihan, did regain the initiative before the end and that will be encouraging for Mick Mulcahy's men.



The Blarney defence was also top class last Sunday week and Leeside manager John Shine admitted his side were lucky enough to get that second half equaliser.



Their top two marksmen, inter-league strikers Conor O'Leary and David Welch (the likely Golden Boot champion), were held scoreless and indeed hardly bothered Blarney keeper Paul Collins at all.



Can Blarney repeat that defensive show? Can Paul Fitton and Cormac Hayes, with the assistance of Fergal O'Leary and Neil O'Riordan, again keep the Leeside forwards in total submission. Maybe they will but the chances are that Welch and O'Leary will break free and do some damage.



Not that you can do that much if the supply isn't there. And that is why the midfield battle will be crucial.



Led by Man of the Match Frank Walsh and his brother Steve, the Leeside defence gave Tom Bevan and Declan Meldrum virtually no room at all and it looks as if they can repeat that performance. Besides, full backs Wayne Barrett and Micky Coughlan, both ex AUL youths, can be expected to help out more in midfield and attack.



Blarney Utd panel: Paul Collins, Neil O'Riordan, Cormac Hayes, Paul Fitton, Patrick Crowley, Dave Moynihan (captain), Carl Brown, Fergal O'Leary, Paul O'Connor, Raymond O'Leary, Alan O'Brien, Tom Bevan, Declan Twomey, Declan Meldrum, Darragh Murray, Joseph Herlihy, Brian Murray, and Kenny O'Brien.

Leeside squad: Kieran Mullins, Pat Collins, Wayne Barrett, Mick Coughlan, Gerry Holland, Barry Lambe, Frank Walsh, Mick Mooney, Stephen Walsh, John Corcoran (captain), Tony Neiland, Jeremy O'Sullivan, Frank Horgan, Conor O'Leary, David Welch, and Kieran Murphy.



Leeside and Blarney will meet twice again before the season is out. Leeside have home advantage for the probable league decider on Sunday week while both have also qualified for the Linnane final on June 1st (venue later).