United book a final spot to reach shoot out

LUCAN United’s second team created a bit of history on Saturday, when they were the first side in the club to reach the final of the LFA Junior Cup reports John Mooney.

This was achieved in a penalty shootout over a gallant UCFL ROC Celtic outfit, in what can only be described as a pulsating semi final.

The LSL side held their nerve in the shootout after missing their opening effort that crashed off the upright.

However, despite leading in spot kicks it all went pear shaped for the Celts and they ended up licking their wounds instead.

A huge crowd descended on the Lawns, in Ballyfermot, for this clash and they were not disappointed as these two turned in a cracking display of football.

ROC went in front after only 10 minutes of play, when Jason O’Neill took a corner from the right hand side of the field and Darren King rose high, unchallenged, to head home.

But that lead lasted only 11 minutes as Lucan got back on level terms, after Leo Mayers slipped the ball to Mark Young and he guided it by keeper Sean Power.

It’s fair to say this was a very open contest, and it was surprising that we had to wait till the second half for the other goals to follow.

Just five minutes after the restart United gained the lead as Oliver Kendrick took a long throw that Power seemed to have under control, but Dunne jumped with him and seemed to get a touch on the ball and it ended up in the net.

The ROC supporters weren’t happy with the decision, and it meant the players had to chase the game and Lucan were happy enough to let them.

However, the longer the game went on the deeper the United players retreated towards their own goal in order to see the game out, and it almost worked out.

But with just seven minutes remaining the game was all square after O’Neills corner was punched clear by Ian Molloy, the ball fell kindly to Keith O’Connell and he blasted it into the net.

Nothing could separate these two in extra time and it was all down to the dreaded shootout where Lucan held their nerve, and can they can now look forward to a date with Wexford Boys in the final.

ROC CELTIC: S. Power, J. Kavanagh, A. O’Brien, C. O’Brien, S. Donohoe, G. Farrell, K. O’Connell, D. King, M. Hendrick, T. Shields, J. Maher, J. Brennan, E. Shields, B. Credon, A. Donegan, B. Herbert.

LUCAN UNITED: I. Molloy, R. McMahon, M. Jesus, M. Tuite, G. Hamilton, S. Lawless, B. O’Halloran, O. Kendrick, T. Kane, M. Young, L. Mayers, E. O’Halloran, J. Hanley, T. McAleese, C. McLoughlin, C. Harte, J. Behan.