Kinvara Taste Cup Success For First Time

By Mark Stokes

WE WON THE CUP: The Kinvara team are all smiles after winning the Irish Emigrant Cup at Joe Moakley Stadium, South Boston, on Friday night.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Fomenky of the Kinvara had a brilliant game in the Irish Emigrant Cup final. He netted two and set up another and was a slightly bigger factor influence for the winners than was Brazilian playmaker, Denni, for the Irish Village.

The Kinvara club tasted Irish Emigrant Cup success for the first time in South Boston on Friday evening, thanks to a five goal blitz which was good enough to see off the challenge of holders, the Irish Village.

Michael Graham’s team had made sweet music in this season’s competition and they were very much on song from the first whistle on Friday night. On seven minutes the Village defence didn’t as much fall asleep as just completely stop playing altogether allowing Doug Charton to just walk in and lob the ball over a hesitant goalkeeper from barely ten yards.

Chilly Ogbonna was instrumental in the goal with a superb chip and the big man would prove to be a thorn in the champions’ side all night.

The Village came back into the game on the half hour when a flowing move down the left resulted in Brian Whelan steaming in to convert a precise cross on the back post, but Charton was on the mark again after 67 minutes, cutting in from the left and beating the Village goalkeeper with a superb strike.

Paul Fomenky came into the game late but was always going to prove a pivotal player and the African striker increased Kinvara’s lead on 74 minutes after a mazy run found him wriggling free of his markers to tap home from close range.

Fomenky was provider for Darren Kearney four minutes later, the big Irishman unleashing a shot that hit the under side of the crossbar and was deemed to have crossed the line. But the action was only heating up and when Kevin Rodgers converted from the penalty spot ten minutes from time, after he had been taken down by goalkeeper Hrach Mikaelian, there was just a hint of a comeback on the cards.

Suddenly it was game on on 82 minutes when Brian Whelan latched onto a loose ball 35 yards from goal, took a few paces forward and unleashed a stunning left foot strike into the top corner for the goal of the game.

John Stack’s team poured forward in search of an unlikely equalizer and were knocking on the door when a breakout saw them punished for the final time.

Fomenky lead a superb solo breakaway and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner to seal the win for the Kinvara.

Some of the Irish boys who taste success after many years with the club are Danny Concagh (captain), Brenny Joyce, Kevin O'Donnell, Leo O'Connor and Petey McNamee.

CONGRATULATIONS KINVARA!

OTH Division 1

MPS 2 Bohemians 0

The MPS Bulldogs defeated Bohemians by a score of two goals to nil in Wayland on Sunday, Kevin Aylett ripping a shot into the roof of the net from 18 yards to shock the Southie side, who had been on top to that point.

Keiron O'Brien's team took the game to their opponents for most of the second half but were stunned late on when former New England Revolution defender, Kevin Wylie stole in to power home a header and seal the points.