Gorey Rangers lose out FAI Junior Cup final to Cockhill Celtic

Wexford side Gorey Rangers lost out to Cockhill Celtic today…

It was in the FAI Junior Cup final and a sunny Eamon Deacy Park in Galway hosted the afternoon game in front of a well-attended and colourful crowd.

Despite their best efforts, it wasn’t to be for Gorey Rangers, who lost out on penalties after the two sides could not be separated after extra time, with the score reading 1-1 apiece.

Gorey Rangers started the game off well and they were the first to break the deadlock. Long-serving Rangers centre-midfielder, Stephen Kinsella, scored an unbelievable free kick on the 14th minute mark. Being so far out, he caught the supporters and importantly, the goal-keeper, Harry Doherty, completely off guard as his 32 yard free kick floated over his head into the back of the net.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wexford Weekly (@wexfordweekly)

Gorey held out their 1-0 lead, much to the credit of their solid defence, in particular the centre-back partnership of Ryan Cullen and Conor Casserly.

Cockhill Celtic had a huge chance with just moments to go in the first half. After a scramble close to goal, a shot from Garbhan Friel was cleared off the goal-line before it was cleared out for a throw-in. Both the Cockhill supporters and the management were incredibly annoyed with the decision, believing it to have crossed the goal-line. Their annoyance was so strong that the match officials were booed off the pitch as the walked to the dressing room at half-time, and were then booed back on when they returned to the pitch from the tunnels of Eamonn Deacy Park. The Cockhill Celtic manager, Gavin Cullen, again protested the decision upon their immediate re-arrival, resulting in the referee giving him a yellow card.

Donegal side, Cockhill Celtic, who lost out the All-Ireland Intermediate final last year, did claw one back at the 75th minute mark however, courtesy of Oisín McColgan who drilled the ball low into the corner of Cian Browne’s net.

Gorey Rangers were dealt another significant blow when their centre back, one of the best players on the pitch at the time – Conor Casserly – was forced off with a head injury on the 88th minute mark. He was substituted by Sean Murphy, who was ruled out of the starting team through injury. Although Murphy didn’t partake in the team’s warm-up, he was called upon to replace Casserly and did quite well after his arrival.

Both teams had chances to win it, but the teams could not be separated at full-time, so another 20 minutes of football was to be played.

Cockhill Celtic were dealt a significant blow when their captain, Jay Bradley, was handed a red card by the referee with just two minutes played in the first half of extra time, much to the annoyance of the Cockhill Celtic management once again, who pleaded with their hands in the air.

Even with an extra man, Gorey Rangers still did struggle to get the ball on the ground and string passes together, a trait that they’re most commonly known for across Wexford.

After the 20 minutes, again, the teams couldn’t be separated and penalties would decide the winner. Although it wasn’t the plan for either team, Gorey Rangers were probably the happier team with penalties looming. In the FAI Junior Cup quarter-final, they won on penalties and then in the FAI Junior Cup quarter-final, they emerged victorious after a penalty shoot-out too. On the other hand, their opponents, Cockhill Celtic, lost last year’s FAI Intermediate Final on penalties and they were likely hoping that lightning wouldn’t strike twice.

But it wasn’t to be for Gorey Rangers in the shoot-out, who lost out 3-1 in penalties.

Although Gorey Rangers will be bitterly disappointed not to get their hands on silverware, their attention will swiftly turn to the Wexford Premier Division, where they are still in contention to recapture the trophy.