Muirhevnamor crowned Clancy Cup winners

With both sides playing attractive open football this was a very enjoyable Clancy Cup Final at Oriel Park which swung from end to end in the first 45 minutes.

Adam Ruddy brought the first save of note from Micheal Cooney in the Muirhevnamor nets after 20 minutes shortly after Caelon Sharkey was almost in but could not get a vital touch.

Adam Bolton then made a magnificent header clearance to deny the Blues the opening score. On 28 minutes Bellurgan's pressure ended when Adam Ruddy rifled John Smyth's free kick to the roof of the net to put the Flynn Park side ahead.

A scrambled clearance then denied Muirhevnamor an equaliser. Shane Rogan made a fantastic save to push away an inswinging free-kick from Tiernan Mulvenna to send the Bellurgan men into the break with a 1-0 lead.

Early in the second half, Danno Kerr should have doubled Bellurgan's lead from a superb John Smyth pass, Micheal Cooney was called into action a minute later to save a well-placed free kick.

Shortly after it was Shane Rogan who made another great save to keep his side a slender lead. In the 64th minute, Micheal Stokes latched on to a breaking ball in the box to fire home from close range to level the game.

As Muirhevnamor began to dominate proceedings, the ageless Micky O'Kane struck what was to prove to be the winning goal with a stunning strike past the despairing dive of Shane Rogan.

This was his 9th Clancy Cup final goal. That 70th-minute lead from O'Kane saw the twelve-time winners make it 13 victories. John Smyth of Bellurgan was sent off after the final whistle.

Players to stand out were, Micheal Cooney, Tiernan Mulvenna, Micky O'Kane, and Benji Dada of Muirhevnamor. Shane Rogan, Adam Bolton, Brody Duffy, Kevin White along with goalscorers Adam Ruddy for Bellurgan.

Muirhevnamor FC: M.Cooney, B.Begley,Thomas Conway,Oisin Morrow, Conall Mulvenna, Tyler Chiduza, Tiernan Mulvenna, Micky O'Kane, Micheal Stokes, Brendan Hughes, Benji Dada.

Subs: Calvin Akenity,Toheeb Agunbiade, Cameron Alwol, Niall McLoughlin, Craig Dixon and Sean Carolan.

Bellurgan United: Shane Rogan, Adam Bolton, S.Cencedons,Aaron Farnon, Brady Duffy,Kevin White,Ross Hynes, Adam Ruddy, Caelon Sharkey, John Smyth, Dano Kerr.

Subs: Joe Needham, Gavin Gregory, Aaron Murphy,Oisin Fitzgerald,Conor Watters, Daragh Brady.

Referee: Eamonn Philips. Assistants: Robert Murphy and Paul Malone (all from the Louth Branch).