Barrett bags only goal as Iorras take Tuohy title
Iorras Aontaithe goalscorer Keelan Barrett breaks through on goal during last Sunday's Tuohy Cup Final against Snugboro United.
An early second-half goal from Keelan Barrett was all that could separate Iorras Aontaithe and Snugboro United at Umbro Park on Sunday as the Barony outfit came away as Tuohy Cup champions.
Iorras came in as heavy favourites having won 14 games in-a-row in all competitions but were made to defend staunchly, particularly in the first-half, to get over the line against a very resolute Snugboro side who were looking to win the Tuohy Cup once more, having lifted the trophy back in 2018.
Iorras manager Paul Reilly was full of praise for the opposition when speaking to the at full-time.
“It was a tough game. We played Snugboro earlier on in the season and beat them 2-1 but to me, that was the toughest game we’ve played all season. They’ve been the best team we’ve played all season,” he said.
“They were teak tough and hard to break down. It’s a good result and great to win but we could have played better. Form goes out the window in games like this and we were a bit stretched with guys away on holidays and a few injuries.
“All the lads stood up today. In the first-half we were poor but we really stood up in the second-half. We got a better foothold; the first-half they were on top.”
After 24 minutes, Snugboro put Iorras goalkeeper Cormac Reilly under duress when Thomas Coen teed up Jason Ormsby, whose shot was palmed clear by Reilly. It came as far as Shea McAtamaney whose follow-up was again cleared by the shot-stopper.
10 minutes later, Tom Murray launched a low volley towards goal from just outside the penalty area after an Ormsby cross found him unmarked in space. Cormac Reilly got down low to make the save.
Iorras lacked chances in the opening half, with the exception of an early effort from Luke McManamon, but they were much sharper in the second 45. Luke McWilliams looked lively on the right flank and after 53 minutes, cut inside, leaned back and launched a curling effort that smacked the crossbar. It came back to Keelan Barrett whose initial effort was blocked at point blank range by Orann Bourke but Barrett made no mistake with the follow-up to make it 1-0 to Iorras.
For Iorras, it was a case of what we have we hold until the full-time whistle and they struggled to threaten the Snugboro goal. Snugboro had a few chances to get back into the game and an equaliser almost came via a total fluke. Nathan Reilly was making a routine clearance for Iorras but Tom Murray stuck a leg out to block it. The ball flew just wide of the goalpost and Iorras let out a sigh of relief.
Odhran Donnelly injected life into Snugboro when he came on in the second-half, heading just over from close range just moments after coming on after 67 minutes. A smooth through ball sent Donnelly on his way to goal with time running out but Killian Flannery made a last ditch tackle to deny him a shooting chance.
Iorras ended the game with 10 men after a second yellow card was shown to Nathan Reilly for a foul on Tom Murray about 25 yards from goal. The resulting free-kick was straight into the wall and the Iorras defence held firm up until the final whistle.
It is the third divisional cup that Iorras Aontaithe have won in this decade, adding the Tuohy Cup to a McDonnell Cup and a Tonra Cup won in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Iorras Aontaithe: Cormac Reilly, Cormac O’Donoghue, Billy O’Connor, Connor Barrett, Oisin Reilly, Aran Reilly, Cillian Reilly, Luke McManamon, Jamie Reilly, Keelan Barrett, Luke McWilliams. Subs: Nathan Reilly (for O’Donohue 51), Padraig Cowman (for McWilliams 57), Eamon Carey (for A Reilly 74), Padraig Gaughan (for O Reilly 80), Killian Flannery (for J Reilly 81).
Snugboro United: Orann Bourke, Sean Coyle, Mark McGreal, Thomas Gibbons, Austin Lacey, Eoin Morris, Thomas Coen, Shea McAtamney, Tom Murray, Dinasii Burkovskyi, Jason Ormsby. Subs: Jonathan Walsh (for Burkovskyi 63), Odhran Donnelly (for Ormsby 67), Aaron Mujic (for McAtamney 78).
REF: Oisin Walsh
