Cleary double sends New Oak into first cup final of new era
New Oak’s David O’Shea beats Hanover Harps' Liam Ryan and powerfully heads clear for his team. Photo: Michael O'Rourke
Over the last five years, there’s not been a cup final that New Oak haven’t reached. When Gavin Dowling stepped down as manager at the end of last season and the club lost four key players to CK United, there might have been a fear that their extraordinarily high standards may drop.
However, in the Plots on Sunday morning, there was a familiar sight as New Oak pulled out a victory against their local rivals, Hanover, to book their spot in the Shield final where they will face Burrin Celtic in the first cup final of the Jamie Lawler era, thanks to a brace from Cian Cleary.
Referee Shane Farrell had a tough job trying to contain things with ten yellow cards being shown in the first half alone with two more following in the second half, and both sides were also shown a red card in what was at times a bad-tempered affair. There could have easily been more sendings off with several off the ball altercations occurring throughout the first half in front of a huge crowd watching on.
But a spicy local derby should have been expected given that the last time these two sides met, Hanover had to watch New Oak lift the Premier Division trophy having put the final nail in the Hanover coffin to relegate them.
Both of these sides have had relatively comfortable paths to the semi-final. After surviving an early scare against Plate finalists Mill Celtic in round one, New Oak came back from an early deficit against Slaney Rovers to secure their place in the semi-final.
Hanover demolished everyone in their path, dominating Crettyard to come out 2-1 victors before racking up big wins against Kilree and Nurney to book their spot in the semi-final.
New Oak were the better side in this game, creating more opportunities, whilst Hanover struggled to keep up, resorting to hitting New Oak on the counter-attack. That being said, they can find themselves unlucky to not have gotten on the scoresheet.
Cian Cleary gave the Paupish an early advantage when he got onto the end of a ball from Charlie Nolan down the right and his shot beat Ewan Breen in the Hanover goal.
New Oak should have doubled their lead when David Doyle taking on free duties with Dean Kelly having left to go to CK United, curled in an effort from the edge of the box on the left just past the far bottom corner. Hanover went close through an ambitious effort from distance on the left from Danny Thompson but it was saved by Corey Harmon. Doyle steered a free straight to Breen.
With 20 minutes gone, 16 year old Keelan Brennan who joined from the Waterford academy saw his effort from the left saved. A scramble just inside the New Oak box saw Liam Ryan get onto the ball and turn into space before releasing a shot goalwards but he couldn't quite get the power on his shot to trouble Harmon who saved easily.
New Oak doubled their lead shortly before half-time when they were awarded a penalty when Leon Fitzgerald took down a New Oak player in the box. Cleary struck his effort coolly into the bottom right hand corner.
Just before half-time, an already tough task for Hanover turned into an uphill climb when FitzGerald was shown a second yellow card and headed for an early shower.
The second half calmed down a bit with the sting taken out of the game. Cialan Brady found himself in space down the left but struck his effort wide on the near side.
New Oak were reduced to ten men midway through the second half when Rodrigo Costa was shown a second yellow card.
Dawid Jarmakow guided an effort over the bar with 20 minutes left in the match. Brennan whipped in a cross from the left for Cormac Murphy to get onto but he headed wide on the left. Keelan Lacey got into space down the left but fired a shot wide across the box.
Ewan Breen, Harry Lloyd, Leon Fitzgerald, John Ryan, Conor McDonnell Harte, Luke Murphy, Eoghan Byrne, Cian Ray, Liam Ryan, Joe Doran, Danny Thompson.
Ryan Fitzgerald, Gael O'Rock, Jack Lawlor, Kevin Power, Keelan Lacey.
Corey Harmon, James McGrath, Killian Barry, David O'Shea, Cian Dowling, Luke Ramsbottom, Cian Cleary, Cormac Murphy, Charlie Nolan, David Doyle, Keelan Brennan.
Dawid Jarmakow, Cialan Brady, Josh Brady, Ben Lawler, Thomas Brennan, Rodrigo Costa, Craig Kearney.
Shane Farrell.
