Five-star Stradbally clinch historic treble in style
Stradbally Town players, management and supporters celebrate their CCFL Division 3 Shield final win at Conor Davis Park Mountmellick on Saturday Photo: Denis Byrne
CCFL Shield Final
Stradbally Town 5
Gracefield 1
STRADBALLY Town created history on Saturday afternoon as they sealed a historic treble for the first time in the club's history after a brilliant victory over Gracefield in the CCFL Shield Final in Conor Davis Park.
They have added the CCFL Shield to their league title and the Leinster Football Association Shield to cap off a memorable year for the club.
They cruised to victory today as they crashed in five goals, three in the first half through Benny Lawlor who grabbed a brace while Fionn McEvoy got the third. With the other two goals in the second half coming from Jody Dillon and Conor Buggie.
It wasn't all plain sailing however as James Devoy got a straight red card just before half time, but the champions navigated the second half brilliantly and cruised home.
They got off to a dream start as they struck for the first goal of the game within two minutes. Jody Dillon and Justin Lalor combined brilliantly to play a ball in behind the defence with Benny Lawlor latching onto it and clinically finished to the back of the net.
Stradbally were oozing with confidence and quality and were dominating the possession. They then unlocked the defence once more in the 21st minute.
It was Lawlor once again that found the net, again Jody Dillon had an involvement after he played a brilliant pass to Fionn McEvoy who slid it into Lawlor who finished to the back of the net to put Stradbally in total control.
Gracefield were stunned with the concession of the first two goals as they tried to settle into the game. They did launch a few attacks, but Cillian Maher and Colin Beale were immense in defence all through the game.
It was 3-0 in the 35 minute as Dillon who was brilliant throughout unlocked the Gracefield defence once more to find McEvoy who made it 3-0 and it looked like the game was over.
Gracefield were then given a lifeline before the break as James Devoy was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Craig Langford, as Stradbally went in 3-0 up at half time.
The victors managed the second superb with ten men, they never looked like surrendering their lead, as their defence was absolutely brilliant along with Anthony Skelly in the goals.
It took 16 minutes for Gracefield to have a shot in the second half, and it was a wild one through Charlie Keogh whose effort sailed over the cross bar.
The fourth goal for Stradbally came courtesy of Dillon after Lawlor provided the assist this time after going past two defenders where he found Dillon in space who made now mistake in finding the bottom of the corner and the celebrations could begin.
Gracefield did get a goal through a header from Curtis Lyons as he scrambled it home from a corner to breach the Stradbally defence for the first time on the game.
Stradbally then finished the game in style as McEvoy played in Conor Buggie, who rounded the keeper and put the ball into the back of the net to round off a history making season for Stradbally Soccer Club.
STRADBALLY: Anthony Skelly; John Hayden, Cillian Maher, Colin Beale, Podge Fitzpatrick; Conor Buggie, James Devoy, Justin Lalor, Benny Lawlor; Fionn McEvoy, Jody Dillon. Subs: Ben Dillon for J Dillon, Noah Delaney for Hayden, Jack Langton for McEvoy, Tadhg Mullen for Lawlor, Gavin Langton for Buggie.
GRACEFIELD: Euegne Nolan; Adam O'Sullivan, Stepehen Flanagan, Dylan Langford, Johnathan Higgins; Craig Langford, Jose Delaico, Curtis Lyons, Eamon Kelly; Charlie Keogh, Jason Knight.
