Close action with Crystal's David McGrane and Tycor's Neil Grant.
Waterford Crystal completed the league and cup double on Wednesday last when they proved too strong for a brave Tycor side who battled manfully right up until the full-time whistle.
Both teams vied all season for bragging rights in the league and for a period of time it was the same story in this game, but when Crystal scored their third goal the contest was well and truly over.
Crystal had younger legs than the Tycor lads and that fact told during the second half. Tycor were trying to win the Marquis Cup for the first time since 1987 when Alan Humphreys led them to glory.
Waterford Crystal of course won the Premier League crown this season also so all in all it has proved to be a very good season for the club. This final produced plenty of action and all present enjoyed the fare served up by both sides.
Goals exchanged
Barry Costine almost gave Crystal the lead after only 2 minutes when he cracked in a rasping drive from 30 yards but the ball came crashing back off the Tycor crossbar. Two minutes later Liam Coady passed to Stephen Dunphy but his effort was saved by the Tycor goalkeeper Ivan Vaisko.
The netminder was however out of luck on 7 minutes when Barry Costine controlled a left-wing cross from David McGrath. Costine let fly from 25 yards and Vaisko allowed the wet ball slip through his hands and into the net.
Tycor fought back with Pat Kelly testing the Crystal goalkeeper Andrew Power from long range. They did get back on level terms on 16 minutes. Brendan O’Shea swung over a corner kick from the left to the far post where Paul Jacob found the net with a powerful downward header.
Stephen Dunphy of Crystal fired in a shot from 30 yards on 31 minutes only for Anthony Dunphy tp throw himself in the way and deflect the ball out for a corner kick.
Waterford Crystal regained the lead just before the half-time break. Johnny Gleeson was fouled just inside the Crystal half of the field. Gavin Grimes took the free kick from the halfway line and Gleeson found the net with a fine header which flew over the diving body of Vaisko from the edge of the penalty area.
More goals
Brendan O’Shea allowed Stephen Dunphy get free out on the right 5 minutes into the second half and when Dunphy shot on goal, Ivan Vaisko somehow managed to tip the ball on to his crossbar. It rebounded back into the path of David McGrath but his effort came back off an upright.
David McGrath crossed to Anthony Clarke 4 minutes later but defender Brendan O’Shea was in the right place to head the ball off the goal-line. It came as no real surprise when Crystal went 3-1 in front just after the hour mark. Stephen Dunphy played the ball down the left to Alan Burns who shot at goal from inside the penalty area but Vaisko saved; however, when the ball came back to Burns he made no mistake second time around.
One minute later Crystal wrapped up the game with their 4th goal. Stephen Dunphy picked out Johnny Gleeson from the left. Gleeson struck the crossbar with his effort but when it came back to David McGrath he hammered the ball past Vaisko from close range.
Tycor never threw in the towel and they continued to press forward but they just could not get a goal to put a better look on the final scoreline. Good entertainment from two fully committed teams. This was the last domestic junior game of the season. The new season will get underway during the third week of August.
Waterford Crystal: Andrew Power, Eoghan O’Toole, Derek Ryan, Anthony Clarke, Barry Costine, Liam Coady, Johnny Gleeson, David McGrath, Sean Butler, Stephen Dunphy, Alan Burns. Subs: Gavvin Grimes for O’Toole (28 mins) Adam Forsey for Butler (73 mins) Jason Burke for Clarke (73 mins). Not used: James Boyle, Aidan Noblett.
Tycor. Ivan Vaisko, Karl Grant, Brendan O’Shea, Michael White, Anthony Dunphy, Paul Jacob, Pat Kelly, Eddie Kelly, Lee Kelly, Clint Power, Ken Ryan. Subs: David Kavanagh for Ryan (H-T), Kieran Burke for Power (65 mins), John Galegy for Grant (65 mins). Not used. John Curran.
Referee: Anthony Walsh.
