Liffey Wanderers 2-2 Cobh Wanderers
(Liffey win 5-4 on penalties)
LIFFEY WANDERERS HAVE been crowned 2017 FAI Cup champions in dramatic fashion this evening.
The Dublin club faced Cork side Cobh Wanderers at the Aviva Stadium, and won out 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the score was tied at 2-2 at the end of extra-time.
The sides went in scoreless at half-time, but Liffey broke the deadlock on 71 minutes through teenager Clayton Maher — who headed an effort off the crossbar before following up to nod home on the second attempt.
Cobh hit back on 85 minutes with Conor Meade first to react after goalkeeper Philip O’Connor had saved from substitute Stephen Griffin.
The full-time whistle went, meaning there was an additional half-hour of football to play. Liffey star Aidan Roche put them back in front with an excellent individual goal early on in extra-time, but Meade level up a second time with virtually the last kick of open play.
Liffey scored five out of six penalties to ensure the cup will remain in Dublin.
Liffey Wanderers: Philip O’Connor, Dean Young (D O’Connor 90+1), David Andrews, Dylan Roche, Carl O’ Brien, Clayton Maher (A O’Connor 77), Conor Riddick, Aidan Roche (G O’ Connor ET 21), Lee Roche, Kenneth Roche (Deegan ET 17), Anthony Gray.
Cobh Wanderers: Michael Devine, Eoin Hastings, Kyle Downing (P Nolan 65), John Meade (Nolan 20), Brian Firtzgerald, David Curran (Geasley 82), Michael O’Shea, Ian Stapelton, Conor Meade, David Stack (O’ Flynn 73), Owen Kinsella (Griffin 62).
Referee: Eddie Reilly
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