On song: Crusaders' Gary Kent bursts past Crystal's Derek Galibert.
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Waterford Crystal lived up to their favourites tag when they won the Division Four cup final in Ozier Park last week.
Having won the league the previous week they went into this decider against Crusaders as most people’s tips to do the double and they duly delivered.
Worthy winners, Crystal struck the woodwork several times against the determined underdogs, and had to wait until the fourth minute of the second half to break the deadlock.
The victors could have taken the lead after less than five minutes when Ian Walsh whipped in a left-wing cross that found Davy Butler, whose cracking effort from the edge of the area flashed inches over the crossbar.
The post came to Crusaders’ rescue on 11 minutes when a foul on Davy Walsh saw defender Niall Butler step over the resulting free kick; however, his stunning left-footed effort, which had keeper Noel O’Dwyer beaten, came back off the woodwork.
It was the turn of the crossbar to deny Crystal a breakthrough on 22 minutes as they began to pile on the pressure.
Wayne Lee laid the ball off into the path of Frank Cummins and his left-footed shot from the edge of the box came crashing back off the centrepiece much to the relief of the Crusaders players.
Three minutes before the break the Crues had a chance of their own to go in front. Fergal Pierce flicked the perfect pass into the path of in-rushing winger John Clooney and although his right-footed shot was on target, Crystal ’keeper Johnny Arrigan made a decent stop at his near post.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full match report.
