FAI Junior Cup Final AET & Penalties: Newmarket Celtic: 1 (5) – St.Michael’s: 1 (4)
Newmarket Celtic have made history this evening becoming the first-ever Clare club to win the FAI Junior Cup after a titanic tussle against St.Michael’s FC of Tipperary.
Paddy Purcell’s charges were first off the mark in Jackman Park on 39 minutes when Eoin Hayes was brought down in the St.Michael’s box, allowing Harvey Cullinan to duly deliver the opening goal of the contest from the resultant penalty.
Newmarket held the advantage until the break and continued to dominate proceedings on the restart, however, a St.Michael’s corner kick against the run of play on the 56-minute mark fell to the feet of David Slattery who buried a low strike to the back of the Shane Cusack’s net to level matters once more.
Both sides had their chances to find a winner in normal and time and Celtic came agonisingly close to achieving the fairytale ending when David McCarthy’s 93rd-minute free kick rattled the outside of the St.Michael’s post.
Extra time ensued , however another double installment of stalemate meant the final destination of the FAI Junior Cup for 2023 would be decided on penalties.
Shane Cusack was the hero of the day for Celtic , converting their first penalty of the shootout, before denying Shane Ryan to put the men in Red in pole position.
As events transpired on a historic day for Clare soccer , Eoin Hayes, Gary Higgins, Ronan McCormack & Stephen Kelly made no mistake when called upon as Newmarket Celtic ran out winners in the shootout on a full-time score of five goals to four to see the FAI Junior Cup come home to the Banner county for the very first time.
