Templeogue United out in force for DDSL Cup Finals
TEMPLEOGUE United boasted no less than six teams involved in last weekend’s DDSL Clubforce Cup Finals weekend at the AUL Complex, with half of those outfits managing to take the final step on the road to their respective honours.
While the club’s Under 12s beat St Joseph’s in the Jean Kennedy Cup showpiece, both Templeogue’s Under 15s and Under 17s had to survive nailbiting penalty shootouts to land the Under 15 Three League Cup and Dick Lynch Cup respectively.
And despite battling displays in their respective deciders, the United Under 13s, 16s and other Under 12s all fell at the final hurdle.
In the Under 15 League Cup title match against St Malachy’s on Sunday, Templeogue found themselves playing catch-up five minutes into the second half.
And it looked as if they would have to settle for the runners up spot until, in what was effectively the last kick of the match, Mark McEneaney fired the ball to the top corner from the edge of the box, forcing extra time.
Malachy’s came on strong in search of a winner after that and, had Fionn Linnane not made a dramatic goal-line clearance, they would surely have secured it.
But instead, Templeogue held on to take the match to penalties where they won 4-3, Ghenadie Curosu, Charlie Grogan, Mark Power and Alex Cox all holding their nerve from the spot.
It was a similar story for the club’s Under 17s against Shankhill the previous Friday as they had to battle back from a goal to draw 1-1 before edging it 5-4 in the eventual shootout in which goalkeeper Benjamin Holland both saved and scored a penalty.
After falling behind, United restored parity when Dan Coogan latched on to a ball in from the left by Adam Malone before rounding the goalkeeper and tucking it away.
Extra time failed to separate the two sides, meaning spotkicks were required, and it was Templeogue who did just enough to secure the prize after John Chew, Luca McCarthy, Holland and Odhran McLoughlin all converted before Fouad Boulmelh despatched the winner.
In the Under 12 Jean Kennedy Cup Final, Templeogue managed to avoid extra time and penalties, although they did have to fight back from a goal down to earn a 2-1 triumph over St Joseph’s.
It was Samuel Redmond who restored parity for the Reds six minutes into the second period when he got on the end of a sublime lay-off from Leo Fitzpatrick before serving up an excellent volley to the target from just outside the box.
Fitzpatrick, who had proven a real headache for the Joseph’s rearguard with his trickery, looked to have registered a second for Templeogue, but his fine effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up.
At the other end, Mortada Yakoubo had earlier been forced to make a goal-line clearance to prevent the Saints going two goals up.
In the end, it was United who managed to nab a winner three minutes from time when the ball broke to Rory Doran just outside the box and he measured his chip over the Malachy’s netminder to perfection.
In what was a fine team display, Templeogue were bolstered by strong performances also from Bobby Dooley, Jack Walsh and captain, Jack Falvey.
Goalkeeper Noah Hurley produced a superb diving save late in the opening half, while Alex McNally, Cian Langford, Sam O’Neill and Milo Maloney also performed well.
There was no joy for Templeogue in the Under 13 Dublin Bus Cup Final as they lost out 2-0 to Railway Union although they can take solace in a gritty performance that was inspired by captain Jack Clarke.
Meanwhile the Templeogue Under 16s were undone by Raheny in the Under 16 Neville Cup Final after the club’s other Under 12 team lost out to Corduff in the League Cup decider.
Pick up your copy of The Echo for more coverage and pictures from the DDSL Cup Finals.
