ST PAT’S CY VERSUS VINTAGE DOCKLANDS 1 : 2

Yet another Vintage performance by Docklands!

Ed Saul holds the Noel Fox Cup, with Glenn Doyle in the blue. Left and right are linesmen Christy Lawrence, and Walter Thompson. Centre is referee Patsy Brown.

Cup shock as Vintage come out as overall winners. Cup shock because, not only were the Vintage anti post outsiders but they faced teams that were of higher league standards.

Manager David Doyle’s side, convincingly outright winners, produced all the ingredients it takes to become champions– pride, passion, hunger, and belief. After thrashing Bridge United 3-0 in the quarter finals they fought back from 0-2 down to overcome a brave Railway Union 3-2 and to set a mouth-watering finale with pre-joint tournament favourites St Pat’s CY who in turn beat co-favourites Ringsend Rovers in the quarter, 1-0 and it took a penalty shoot-out to overcome Liffey Pearse in the semis.

So as the crowds assembled on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Ringsend with the playing surface 100% thanks to our chief grounds man ‘Smasher’ out came both teams. CY’s manager Anthony Owens looked in upbeat mood and Vintage manager David Doyle looked fairly nervous and it was nerves from both teams on the pitch as neither team could settle.

St Pat’s were clearly the better footballing side but David Doyle’s troops were aware of this and enforced their upper body strength to stop their rhythm, which proved very effective.

After 20 minutes, Anto Owen looked on in disbelief as his players failed to get out of the starting blocks and could do nothing about efforts from both Alan Yuen and Sean Luden, thunderous strikes, lucky for him they blasted just wide. On the 21st minute Graham Hannigan for CY might have done better from the edge of the box.

At this stage the belief was there for the Vintage. The likes of Robert Alwright mopped everything for Vintage in defence, both on the deck and in the air. Captain Glen Doyle controlled everything in the middle of the park

As the game entered the half-hour mark the deadlock was broken through Captain ‘fantastic’ Glen Doyle with a goal any player in the world would be proud of as his 40-yard strike thundered into the top left corner, leaving the CY players stunned.

That sparked CY into life as the likes of John Flood started his trademark runs on the right side and Keith Ryan waited to pounce and that he did inside the box on the 38 minute, 1-1 with a clinical finish! CY finished the first half stronger, which gave Doyle time to consult with his head coach Barry Benson on getting their side’s shape back.

With only minutes into the second half Vintage took the lead through Alan Yuen, 1-2, from an Eamon Phibbs corner as CY failed to clear their lines. From there on, a lot of the traffic was one way, CY huffed and puffed! Several changes were made by both managers early in the second half and the most eye-catching was the replacement goalkeeper Adam Roche, who continuously denied CY extra time as he pulled off save after save!

At that stage Vintage were holding on for their lives and then the music rang out from referee Patsy Browne as the final whistle sounded to the joy of all Vintage players and supporters. Final score 1-2 to the Vintage Docklands.

Manager David Doyle’s quote after the match, “The lads’ job was to keep them quiet for the first 20 minutes and that they did, their heads dropped and we took our chances, what a team I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Finally, I would like to thank all involved in running the ‘Noel Fox Tournament’ and Fianna Fáil’s Chris Andrews for his support.