Ryan grabs late winner for Clara to knock Villa out

Clara Town 1 Temple Villa 0

By John Dingle

There was late drama under the floodlights at Stanley O’Hara Park last Saturday night as Clara Town struck in stoppage time to knock Temple Villa out of the Combined Counties Cup.

Both teams had earlier chances to break the deadlock but as the tie headed beyond the 90-minute mark, it looked like extra-time would be needed to separate them. Isaac Ryan proved to be the home hero as his low shot to the net in the first additional minute squeezed Clara into the next round, ending Villa's hopes of a second Counties Cup final appearance in three years.

In an all-Senior Division clash on the new astro turf pitch, there was little between the teams throughout with neither able to take a commanding control of proceedings. Liam Flynn had an early chance for Villa from the first corner kick of the contest, while Ryan then had a shot blocked for the hosts. With the visitors having the better of the early exchanges, Flynn and Kieran McNally both had efforts off target and Aaron O’Neill fired over.

Clara, once they had come to life, had the best chance to open the scoring so far. On 27 minutes, Tadhg Maher took aim but Paul Bannon did well to block the shot.

Aaron O’Neill had another chance but once more it was the Offaly outfit who came closest to scoring. Again, Bannon was in top form as he pushed Ryan's strike behind at his near post, with the ball almost creeping into the net.

Villa had the final chances of the half with Aaron O’Neill having a shot blocked behind for a corner and Neill Macken ending the action in stoppage time when seeing his strike saved.

For long periods of the second half, it looked like the tie would be heading to extra-time only to come to life again in the closing stages and a dramatic winner arriving for Clara.

Macken had an early shot for the visitors which was saved and Villa had further chances up to the hour mark through Cian Fallon and Nazar Zubkov, who blasted over.

The Mount Temple based side forced another corner midway through the half but there was little further goalmouth action until the closing stages. Both teams made changes during the half in an attempt at breaking the deadlock.

Benny Magennis was the first change made by Villa player-manager Damien Rushe and he set up Macken after 72 minutes. The Villa number ten looked set to score but his shot towards the near post was blocked by Clara goalkeeper Adam Scanlon. It was the visitors' best chance of the tie and the miss was to prove costly as Clara eventually struck in stoppage time.

Ryan had two chances at the other end, either side of a Villa corner, and as the game headed into stoppage time, it looked like extra-time would follow.

There was a late twist though as Clara pounced to finally open the scoring in the first additional minute. Villa will be disappointed at the nature of their exit as they allowed an attack to break down and then failed to put in a decisive tackle to halt Clara’s push down the pitch. Ryan took possession and after skipping past a number of Villa tackles on the edge of the penalty area, he fired a low shot to the net out of the reach of Bannon.

The Westmeath side tried to rectify the situation in the short time remaining but could not level matters. A corner kick saw goalkeeper Bannon join the attack in a desperate attempt at grabbing an equaliser. It did not work out though as a frustrated Bannon picked up a yellow card instead with Villa's cup dreams shattered.

There was still time for more drama as Magennis was denied a penalty kick at the death when hitting the deck in the penalty area as just over four additional minutes were eventually played.

In a nervous conclusion for them, Clara held out to claim a spot in the next round of a competition they last won in 2021. Villa, meanwhile, will have to wait another year to try and reach a final they last contested in 2024 when beaten by St Peter's.

Man of the match: Pa Smith (Clara Town). Temple Villa could not prise open the Clara rearguard where Smith was a commanding presence at the heart of the home defence.

What's next: Both teams are again in knockout action this weekend, in the Paddy Cotter Cup this time, as Clara entertain Monksland United’s B team, while Villa take on Willow Park.

Clara Town: Adam Scanlon, Victor Gonzalez, Ben Kennedy, Pa Smith, Thomas Devine, Ronan Touhey, Isaac Ryan, Davy Minnock, Dylan Deehan Kavanagh, Cormac Delaney, Tadhg Maher. Subs: Adam Kelly for Kennedy (60 mins); Neil Robbins for Maher (71); Cody Fitzpatrick for Minnock (84).

Temple Villa: Paul Bannon, Liam Flynn, Dean O’Neill, James Craughwell, Ben Moran, Damien Rushe, Neill Macken, Nazar Zubkov, Aaron O’Neill, Kieran McNally, Cian Fallon. Subs: Benny Magennis for A O’Neill (77 mins); Mark Gannon for McNally (83); Michael Okpeaye for Rushe (90).

Referee: Sean Finn (Laois).