Dennehy’s Health & Fitness Grangevale secure Shield win after thriller in Cobh
DHF Grangevale 4 – 3 Longboats
Man of the Match: David Barrett
It was DHF Grangevale who came out triumphant at St Colmans Park in Cobh as they edged out Longboats in a thrilling 2024 / 2025 CBL Shield Final, writes Donncha Noonan
It only took ten minutes for the deadlock to be broken, and it went Longboats’ way. David O’Keefe swung in a sublime corner which was met by the head of Stephen Dwyer who emphatically headed home to give his side the lead.
Longboats had the momentum and doubled their lead four minutes later. Davie Scott worked well down the right wing, getting to the byline and playing a low ball to the feet of Sean Nagle. Nagle’s shot was blocked, with the ball falling to Christopher Madden on the right hand side. He fired a low ball into the box towards Stephen Dwyer, who struck it first time and sent his effort into the roof of the net.
DHF Grangevale refused to put their heads down, and got back in the game with eighteen minutes gone. A Longboats kick out fell to David Barrett, who took it on the volley and sent Aaron O’Sullivan through on goal. O’Sullivan kept his cool and slotted it into the bottom right corner to cut the lead to one goal.
DHF Grangevale sprung to life, and levelled the game three minutes later. David Barrett swung in a corner towards the back post, where Ben Jenkins was on hand to send a powerful header into the back of the net from six yards out.
From 2-0 down, DHF Grangevale turned the game on its head a minute later and took the lead. Luke Dennehy received the ball on the right wing and played a brilliant first time ball over the top for Corey Harris to chase. Harris beared down on goal and cheekily dinked the keeper to complete the turnaround and give his side the lead.
After 5 goals in the first 22 minutes, the game settled down as both teams tightened up at the back. With no more goals being scored in the first half, it was DHF Grangevale who went into the break a goal to the good.
Longboats came into the second half looking to avenge the two goal lead that they gave away, and managed to once again level the game in the fifty sixth minute. They won a free kick on the edge of the DHF Grangevale box. David O’Keefe stepped up to take it and brilliantly curled his shot into the far right corner to make it 3-3.
It would be another free kick that would lead to the eventual winning goal, but this time it was DHF Grangvale who’d score the crucial set piece. David Barrett sent a free kick on the left hand side of the box towards goal. His effort was saved, but subsequently spilled by the keeper which allowed Brian Murphy to dispatch the rebound to once again give Grangevale the lead.
Longboats spent the remaining twenty five minutes continuously testing the DHF Grangevale defence, but, despite the late dismissal of David Barrett after picking up his second yellow card of the game, ultimately it was to no avail and the full time whistle blew to crown DHF Grangevale the 2025 CBL Shield champions. A thrilling final with both teams playing some exciting football, but it was DHF Grangevale who got the better of Longboats on the day. Congratulations to everyone at DHF Grangevale on the win.
DHF Grangevale: J. O’Sullivan, A. Buckley, J. Moleli, B. Jenkins, B. Murphy, J. Barry, L. Dennehy, D. Kelleher, A. O’Sullivan, D. Barrett, C. Harris, D. O’Neill, A. Baldwin, J. Kelleher, E. Compagno, G. McCarthy, B. O’Leary, N. Fitzgerald.
Longboats: E. Walsh, S. O’Sullivan, D. O’Keefe, A. O’Donovan, J. McCarthy, C. Madden, L. Cashman, C. McNamara, S. Dwyer, S. Nagle, D. Scott, J. McKenzie, K. Dullea, R. Lewer, R. Murphy, M. Tobin, P. O’Leary, J. Sheehan.
