Five-star celebration as Stradbally end 26-year wait for league glory
The celebrations in full flow in Stradbally.
After a 26-year wait, the celebrations got under way at Charter Road as Stradbally Town were presented the CCFL Division 3 title on Wednesday night.
Fittingly, the newly-crowned champions marked the occasion in style with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Cloneygowan Celtic.
From the off Stradbally dominated all the possession and created the bulk of the chances. They nearly got off to a dream start in the third minute when Conor Buggie flew down the line and whipped in a brilliant cross to Benny Lawlor, only for Lawlor’s effort to come off the post.
Lawlor came close again in the tenth minute, but this time his effort went over the bar as the home side were frustrated in the opening stages.
Stradbally came close again with 28 minutes on the clock as Justin Lalor won a free with Benny Lawlor taking it, but he was denied for a third time as the Cloneygowan goalkeeper was equal to his brilliant effort.
The opening goal soon came after, however, when substitute Noah Delaney - who was only on a few minutes - played a ball over the top and this time Lawlor made no mistake in finding the net.
It was 2-0 six minutes later as Fionn McEvoy did superbly well to play a fine pass into James Devoy, who slipped the ball under the keeper to put Stradbally in full control.
Cloneygowan found a route back into the game as Colin Beale took down Adam Kelly for a penalty kick. Lee Mulpeter stepped up and slotted it past Antony Skelly to make it 2-1 at half time.
The away side tried their best to spoil the party when they equalised straight after the break. Skelly made a great save from Mulpeter, but Jason Gorman was on hand to score the rebound to make it 2-2.
It did not stay level for long as the Stradbally response was emphatic. Justin Lalor played Fionn McEvoy who rounded past Nigel Gorman and found the net from a tight angle.
It was 4-2 soon after, with a brilliant team move that ended with Conor Buggie who dispatched the cross into the net as the game was nearing the end.
The celebrations then got under way after Stradbally found their fifth goal of the night through another substitute, this time Tadgh Mullen, after great work from Eoin Buggie to round off the perfect night for Stradbally Town as their long wait for a league title is now over.
Jack Larkin, Antony Skelly, Colin Beale, Podge Fitzpatrick, Tom Shiel, John Hayden, Jimmy O’Connor, Sean Devoy, Noah Delaney, Eamonn Delaney, Jack Deegan, Cha O’Brien, Justin Lalor, Cillian Maher, John Clancy, James Devoy, Fionn McEvoy, Jody Dillon, Eoin Buggie, Benny Lawlor, Conor Buggie, Gavin Langton, Jack Langton, Ben Dillon, Caillium Kelly, Liam Clancy, Sam Rooney, Tadgh Mullen, Garry Comerford.
Noel Toomey (Manager), JP Cushen, Dessie Rowan and Paul Byrne (Assistants)
