Crumlin win back Ryan Cup and complete a treble
By Stephen Leonard
CRUMLIN United’s Saturday side completed a superb treble last night when they beat Booth Road Celtic 3-1 to win back the Noel Ryan Cup at Pearse Park.
Having lost the coveted prize to Booth last season, Crumlin were hungry to get their hands back on this piece of silverware, and they took a step closer to doing just that when Leon Foley struck after 20 minutes.
In a move that started with Crumlin goalkeeper Anthony McGuinness, the ball eventually made its way to Ian Touhy who looked set to shoot, but instead, threaded the ball through to Foley who tucked it away.
Some 15 minutes into the second half, they made it 2-0 when Chris Strassle cut in from the right and unloaded a shot that was blocked into the path of Carl Redmond and he rattled the net.
Yet Booth were not about to relinquish the cup so easily and pulled one back with 12 minutes remaining after substitute Shane Merrigan got in on the end of a Michael Collins free kick.
The Clondalkin side continued to press for a leveller, but the experience of Sean O’Connor in the centre of the park went a long way to helping Crumlin manage the game at this crucial stage.
And they, pretty much, made certain of the win when Touhy played in Strassle and he let fly for their third from just inside the box.
The win wrapped up a memorable season for this Crumlin outfit that topped the LSL Major Saturday Division for the sixth year running while also bagging the Lanigan Cup.
TAGS Sport
