Oscar Traynor Cup
Quarter-final - January 1997



Our Logo Soccer News 29 January 1997


GOALKEEPING HERO PRENDERGAST ENDS 16-YEARS AGONY. . .

Mayo exorcise cup jinx at long last!

Galway ................................. 2
Mayo ................................... 2
(Mayo won 4-3 on penalties after extra time)

TOM KELLY REPORTS. . .FROM TERRYLAND PARK

The long wait is over! Mayo have finally exorcised an Oscar Traynor Cup jinx spanning 16 years. Their unenviable record of never having defeated Galway in the competition at Terryland Park since 1981 has come to an end.

But they were forced to come from behind before bringing an enthralling quarter-final clash to extra-time and snatching the most glorious and sweetest of victories in a tense penalty shoot-out.

Ballyglass goalkeeper Declan Prendergast, who defied doctor's orders by playing in the first place, produced the match-winning save which will forever hold a place of pride in Mayo football folklore.

Prendergast, who took pain-killers for a back injury before the game, saved the final penalty kick by Galway full-back Robbie Walsh to clinch a dramatic triumph.

The charismatic custodian produced an even better save moments earlier when he brilliantly got his right fist to Galway's first effort by Mark Keane after Manulla's Tom Healy had missed Mayo's opening strike.

Ballyglass defender Justin Keady, Achill Rovers powerhouse Vincent Gallagher, Claremorris ace Kevin Ring and Ballyglass midfielder Ray Prendergast converted Mayo's remaining four attempts.

With Galway's Kieran Connelly, Eoin Keane and David Samuels also being spot-on with their efforts, the score stood 4-3 on penalties when Robbie Walsh faced the responsibility of keeping the home side's Oscar Traynor Cup hopes alive.

Ironically, however, Walsh was foiled by the goalkeeper who should not have been playing at all in the first place. Prendergast had been receiving treatment all week after incurring the injury in his club's penalty shoot-out defeat against Kiltullagh in the F.A.I. Junior Cup.

He explained afterwards: "There was no way I was going to sit on the bench for a match of this nature, injury or not. We knew we had to lay the bogey once and for all, and it was a motivating factor for us in many respects."

In light of his match-winning display, it would have been a shattering blow had Prendergast been forced to cry off the starting line-up, given that Paul Jordan, the captain of the side, suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury in the pre-match warm up.

The Urlaur attacker had been nursing a less significant injury on the run-up to the encounter, but there was little indication that he would not be fit to play.

A greater level of concern focussed on his brother, Chris, who was selected at midfield despite being short of 100 per cent fitness.

DREAM START

The selection of in-form Manulla striker Alan Rumley, called into the squad following his performance a week earlier against Crumlin United in the F.A.I. Junior Cup, in place of Paul Jordan, marked the only change in the side which defeated Inishowen 3-1 in the last round of the series.

Rumley responded instantly to the faith placed in him by setting up Mayo's opening goal in the fourth minute.

His swiftly-taken short corner-kick to Kevin Ring resulted in Rumley knocking the return pass from the left into the Galway penalty area where the unmarked Martin Vahey headed the ball sweetly into the net past Galway Bohs goalkeeper, Colm Murphy.

It was a dream start for Mayo, but they disappointingly failed to capitalise on the advantage of the early goal.

Galway responded to the setback in typically positive fashion, and virtually dominated the remainder of the first half with their crisper passing and more fluid attacking play.

They were back on level terms after a quarter of an hour with an equalising goal which reflected poorly on Mayo's defensive organisation. Central defender Mark Folan could scarcely believe the scope extended to him at the near post as he rose unchallenged to head midfielder Mark Keane's corner-kick into the net from close range.

Galway should have taken the lead in the 22nd minute when Sean Murphy amazingly blazed the ball over the bar from inside the six yards box as Mayo's vulnerability on the left side was being exposed.

The fact of the matter, from Mayo's point of view, was that neither Roger Clarke nor Vincent Gallagher were playing particularly well at the stage.

LIGHTENING ATTACK

The tribesmen were rewarded for their superior approach play ten minutes later when Moyne Villa's Eamon Walsh struck the side's second goal following a lightening attack down the right flank.

Ballyglass star Martin Vahey, whose pace had been causing problems for the Galway rearguard from the beginning, had a golden opportunity of equalising before half-time when he was put clean through.

Defender Folan made a brilliant last ditch tackle in the instance, but Vahey knew he should have done better. Mayo manager P.J. Duffy made two changes ten minutes into the second half which, in the final analysis, proved critical. Manulla duo Roger Clarke and Alan Rumley were withdrawn to make way for versatile Ballyglass player, Justin Keady, and Claremorris midfielder, Stephen Ring.

The key to the success of the switches was the decision to push right-full Kieran McDonnell into midfield with Keady filling in behind him. McDonnell's tenacity and quick-thinking inspired those around him, with Tim Moriarty, the side's midfield lynchpin, suddenly finding a new lease of life following a lack lustre first half by his standards. It seemed that Duffy had impulsively pushed the perfect button to light up his struggling side.

Within moments of the alterations, Mayo had Galway on the proverbial rack and Vahey missed another glorious chance of equalising following a one-on-one situation with the Galway goalkeeper, Murphy.

Seven minutes later, however, Mayo were back on level terms. Tom Healy, producing one of his finest displays at inter-league level, floated a long range free-kick into Galway's 18-yards box, and Tim Moriarty back-headed the ball into the Galway net.

Mayo were back in business, and deservedly so. But they had to call on all their reserve of energy and stamina during the second period of extra-time when Galway appeared to find a new lease of life.

The omens did not favour Mayo when the issue went to a penalty shoot-out, having lost in similar circumstances at the venue in 1985, 1986 and 1995.

But goalkeeper Declan Prendergast delivered the masterstroke to give Mayo a place in the semi-finals of the prestigious national competition for the first time since 1988.

Galway: C. Murphy, R. Walsh, D. Samuels, J. Walsh, M. Folan, A. Corcoran, E. Walsh, M. Keane, S. Murphy, M. Keogh, J.G. Gibsy. Res: D. Sheridan (for Murphy); E. Keane (for Corcoran); K. Connelly (for Keogh).

Mayo: D. Prendergast, K. McDonnell, V. Gallagher, T. Healy, D. Ansbro, R. Clarke, C. Jordan, T. Moriarty, M. Vahey, K. Ring, A. Rumley. Res: J. Keady and S. Ring (for Clarke and Rumley); R. Prendergast (for Jordan).

Ref: J. Cormacan (Roscommon).

* Star Rating: Declan Prendergast. . .match-winning saves.



Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - January 1997