Junior Cup holders Ardmore narrowly missed out on lifting another piece of silverware at the weekend.
They were aiming to become only the second team from Northern Ireland to win the all-Ireland Presidents' Cup, which annually brings together the Irish FA Junior Cup winners and their Football Association of Ireland counterparts for the right to be crowned all-Ireland champions.
But the North-West Junior League side lost by a goal to nil - it was scored in the 87th minute - against Fairview Rangers AFC from Co Limerick in the cup final staged at The Showgrounds in Sligo.
Hailing from the Limerick District League, Fairview had a lot of experienced players in their line-up, including former League of Ireland midfielder Shane Duggan.
Ardmore keeper Kristian O'Hagan was arguably the busiest man on the park. He produced some fine saves as Fairview piled on the pressure.
The competition rules do not allow for extra-time in the final, so Ardmore looked to be heading for a penalty shoot-out when Fairview substitute Cian McNamara grabbed the late goal that proved to be the winner.
Afterwards Ardmore boss Feidhlim O'Neill said: “We played very well. I couldn’t fault any of our boys. They all got 10 out of 10 for performance and effort. It just wasn’t to be our day, but we gave a top performance against a top team.”
The victory meant Fairview, 10 times winners of the FAI Junior Cup, became the first team on the island of Ireland to lift the trophy for a second time. They previously won it in 2021.
Ardmore made history of their own earlier this year by winning the fonaCAB Craig Stanfield Junior Cup for the first time.
Last year Enniskillen Rangers became the first team from Northern Ireland to win the all-Ireland trophy when they defeated Co Donegal outfit Cockhill Celtic in the final.
The winners of the cross-border cup competition since it was founded in 2018 are: North End United (Co Wexford), St Michael’s (Co Tipperary), Fairview Rangers (Co Limerick - twice), Villa FC (Co Waterford), Newmarket Celtic (Co Clare) and Enniskillen Rangers (Co Fermanagh).
Image: Fairview celebrate their second success in the all-Ireland Presidents' Cup.
