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Wednesday 1st June Rockfield Park, Blackrock KO 7.00pm.
Booterstown 1 v Portmarnock 2
Portmarnock came into their final game of the season knowing that a point against second placed Booterstown would be enough to see them crowned champions. Portmarnock traveled out to Blackrock on a sunny Wednesday evening to face their title rivals who required a win to take Portmarnock into a playoff for the league title, but Portmarnock were determined to do it in style.
From kickoff Booterstown manufactured a chance down the left wing where a cross come shot came back off the foot of the post which the Portmarnock defence immediately reacted too and cleared their lines. This turned out to be the home sides best chance in the first half as Portmarnock won all their individual battles, keeping the pressure on the opposition and had them pinned into their own half for most of the first 45 minutes. It was obvious that Portmarnock really wanted this giving the Booterstown players no time at all on the ball. This relentless pressure forced Booterstown to concede corner after corner with both Portmarnock centre halves Marc Currid and Enda McCarthy unlucky not to convert one of their chances.
At this stage Portmarnock were in full control of the game with Kenny Leahy and Gary Wells both having good shots from distance with the Booterstown keeper just managing to palm Gary Wells shot around the post. Portmarnock made several attacks down the right and left wings
with some great overlapping runs from Gary Wells and Darragh McNally on the left side and Kenny Leahy and Davy Moran on the right side. One of these attacks finishing with an excellent low shot across goal by Davy, following a mazy run, with the ball ending up just outside the far post.
In the 31st minute Robbie Stafford played a beautiful ball to David White who's delightful flick put the ball into the path of a bursting run from John O'Connor who smashed the ball into the net putting it past the on rushing keeper before he could even react. 1-0 to Portmarnock.
Just before half time Portmarnock hit a long ball forward which looked like it wouldn't threaten the Booterstown defence who let it go all the way back to their keeper only for Donal Mc Donagh to somehow get on the end of it and lift it over the Booterstown keeper who was saved by his centre half clearing it off the line.
1-0 to Portmarnock at half time.
Portmarnock started the second half with the same intensity as they finished the first, committed to every tackle, stamping their authority in the game, while winning everything in the air that the opposition pumped long.
On 54 minutes Portmarnock were awarded a free kick just inside the Booterstown half. John O'Connor delivered in a cross at pace right into the danger area where Enda McCarthy, got ahead of his man, to fire past the keeper with a neat finish. Queue mass celebrations.
Booterstown pressed hard to try pull themselves back into the game with Portmarnock bringing on Colin Gahan and Shane Robinson to keep the high intensity play in their game. With 10 minutes to go Aidan Thompson came on and nearly scored with his first touch. Davy Moran put in a cross from the right wing picking out Aidan Thompson who controlled it superbly with his first touch only to screw his shot wide of the post.
The final 10 minutes of the match saw Booterstown create their best chances with Portmarnock keeper Gerry Feeney tipping one over the bar from distance and from the resulting corner make a fantastic double save, at close range, to deny Booterstown. Into injury time Booterstown grabbed a late consolation goal following a corner that was put in at close range but at that stage everyone was waiting for the referee's final whistle so the celebrations could begin.
2-1 winners on the night leaving Portmarnock with a 6 point margin at the top of the table, bring the league title home in style.
From Top Left: Steven Kelly (Manager), Enda McCarthy, Marc Currid, David White, Colm Gogerty, John O'Connor, Shane Robinson, Davy Moran, Gary Wells, Brian O'Neill, Colin Gahan.
From Bottom Left: Donal McDonagh, Richard O'Callaghan, Gerry Feeney, Brendan Spiering, Kenny Leahy, Robbie Stafford, Darragh McNally, Aidan Thompson.
