Partry are cup Masters once again
Partry Athletic, 2025 Oliver Kelleher Masters Cup champions. Picture: Michael Donnelly
A dominant Partry Athletic, led by hat-trick hero John Russell, recorded back-to-back Masters Cup titles as the blue and white had too much in the tank for a brave Kiltimagh Knock United side.
Indeed, the one-sided nature of this clash may have been unexpected as Kiltimagh Knock were crowned Division One champions in March, but Partry Athletic produced a barnstorming display to collect the coveted silverware.
Last Wednesday’s encounter was barely one minute old when Kiltimagh Knock plundered the lead. Gavin Groarke raced onto possession, and he guided home a cool finish beyond the reach of the beaten Derek O’Sullivan.
The recently crowned Division Two champions didn’t panic at such an early set-back and they gradually began to win some possession, with a fine delivery from John Russell setting-up Kevin Dolan, whose strike forced a fine save by Niall Walshe. Another raking delivery from Russell found his Partry team-mate Danny Lydon, but the latter’s header went the wrong side of the post.
Partry restored parity on six minutes. Russell won possession and his sumptuous long-range strike flew into the top corner of Walshe’s net.
United were under the cosh and the East Mayo men were really let off the hook on 12 minutes, when some spellbinding build-up play between Russell and Ciaran Hennelly resulted in a scoring opportunity for the supporting John Byrne, but his strike flashed inches wide.
The Kiltimagh attacking forays may have been limited during the first half, but the red and black very nearly fashioned the lead goal on 15 minutes when Groarke meandered past the Partry cover, only to see his angled drive flash across the face of O’Sullivan’s goal and wide.
Russell was the main lynchpin for Partry, and he played a part in the elusive lead goal which arrived on 21 minutes. Sullivan had possession inside his area and his long-range thrown delivery found Russell, whose eagle-eyed vision resulted in Dolan collecting possession and the latter’s smashing finish was destined for the bottom corner of the net.
United barely had time to regroup, as one minute later a buzzing Partry struck for a third. Russell collected possession and the Sligo Rovers manager unleashed an ambitious long-range drive which rustled the back of the net.
Just before the break, a plucky United could well have reduced the half-time deficit when a chance fell to Groarke, but this time O’Sullivan was equal to the challenge.
The leaders almost made the ideal start to the second half, with Dolan most unlucky to see his swerving drive hit the upright.
Walshe was keeping Kiltimagh Knock in the game by producing a string of top-drawer saves but on 32 minutes, Athletic added a crucial and game changing fourth goal. Another fine Walshe save denied Dolan’s goal-bound strike, but the hovering Hennelly was on hand to guide the loose ball to the back of an empty net.
Two minutes later, Partry added a fifth when Dolan, with his back to goal, saw his audacious overhead strike end up in the back of the net for what must surely be a goal of the season contender.
Partry refused to step off the gas and the blue and white added a sixth goal on 35 minutes, when Russell collected possession near the left-wing and skipped past the United cover before rounding Walshe and guiding home an exquisite finish, thus recording his hat-trick.
John Byrne then got his name on the scoresheet when the industrious Partry right-back netted two quick-fire goals on 39 and 41 minutes respectively, with his second being a peach of a chipped effort.
As the game petered out, Partry concluded their masterclass display when Brendan Garry gleefully added a ninth goal for his team-mates.
United did manage to net a late consolation goal, when Colm Garvey’s set-piece delivery set-up John O’Hara and the latter rustled the back of the net. However, overall, Partry Athletic were much the better team and they can now add the Masters Cup to their trophy cabinet alongside the Division Two title.
