Unbeaten since last September, Maree/Oranmore u-18s have captured this season’s Richard Quinn Premier League title in Oranmore.
Going into this game, Maree/Oranmore needed only a single point to frustrate opponents Hibs/Foyle, who, with two games in hand, also harboured ambitions to win this league.
As a result the city side travelled to Oranmore intending to secure a win, which made for a highly entertaining encounter with both sides creating early chances. Midway through the opening half Maree/Oranmore took the lead when striker Bryan O’Connell despatched a penalty kick, awarded for a blatant hand ball, to leave the hosts 1-0 up at the break.
Early into the second half O’Connell spurned two opportunities to close out the game when he was put through one-on-one with the Hibs/Foyle keeper, after excellent work by captain Gary O’Toole at the back and Brendan Tully in the middle of the park. These misses could have proved costly for the home side, particularly as the visitors grabbed an equaliser 12 minutes into the half. However minutes later Patrick Corcoran and Brian Keane combined on the right to let striker O’Connell grab his second of the evening for Maree/Oranmore.
The visitors upped the tempo in the final quarter and a number of superb saves by Niall Eames maintained the home side’s lead until the 80 minute mark when they conceded an easy and unnecessary equaliser. The strength of character and resolve of this Maree/Oranmore side came to the fore in the closing minutes as they held out for a 2-2 draw and Premier League honours for the first time. On May 22 the u-18s face Renmore AFC in Deacy Park Terryland at 7pm in the Premier Cup final.
Also on last Thursday evening the u-13 B side had an excellent 5-2 win over Craughwell Utd in the quarter final of the knock-out cup which was played in Craughwell. Newbridge side Shiven Rovers, Lisa Blayney scored both of the goals for the Maree/Oranmore girls.
