Page 16 - COBH WANDERERS V SLIGO ROVERS FAI CUP 3RD ROUND 2015

Pop Keller Cup Final - O’Shea Park, Blarney. 9-5-15

It was a smashing day for the Wanderers with a first senior cup final win in many years. A
first half strike from Davin O’ Neill was enough to ensure the addition of the Pop Keller cup to
the League 2 title this season. Wanderers were by far the better team on the day but failed to
make their superiority tell on the score sheet and this led to a very nervy second half before
securing the cup. Wanderers let their intensions be known early in the game when Meade
crossed from the right to the head of Nolan but his effort was weak and easily saved.
A super move, starting with Fitzgerald and on through Nolan to Davin who chipped to Meade,
ended with Meade volleying wide. There was very little from Ballinhassig in this first quarter.
On 22 Hastings put the ball over the top to pick out Meade who settled himself well but shot
narrowly wide of the near post.
This did lead to Ballinhassigs first chance of the game, as they broke quickly and their striker
cut inside Fitzy but pulled his left foot effort harmlessly wide from only five yards out. Wan-
derers took the lead on 27 minutes when they worked the ball up the right and Stapleton
found O’ Neill in the box. Davin was pulled back but he stayed on his feet and hit a drive
which the keeper could only ease into the far top corner.
Wanderers had a chance to double the lead on 31 minutes when a long ball over the top
found Davin out wide and he flicked on to Nolan. Nolan slipped the defender on the by-line
and chip crossed to Stapleton but his volley into the ground flew well wide of the target. A
top class move on 36 minutes saw Davin back heel to Geasley who played a one, two with
Chubbs but Geasley crossed when a shot looked a better option and the opportunity was lost.
Ballinhassig gained in confidence up to half time and had a good spell only to be denied by a
series of clearances from Dave Stack. On the stroke of half tome Bruton had to clear off the
line to maintain the lead into the break.

Geasley had a great opportunity to double the lead in the first minute of the second half. He
was very unlucky to see his side-foot effort just shave the outside of the right hand post.