Archive Classics: Revenge for Glantraeth in Cookson final – Corrig clinches cup

Cookson Cup Final 2017

Glantraeth 2 (Lock 50, McGonigle 117)
Penrhyndeudraeth 1 (Tomos Smith 8)
After extra time
May 2017

Revenge for Glantraeth!

Corrig McGonigle’s 59th goal of the season three minutes from the end of extra time ensured Glan turned the tables after their Mawddach Cup final defeat at the hands of Penrhyndeudraeth the previous season.

McGonigle’s decider not only landed the Cookson Cup for the Anglesey side, it also clinched them the double having already been crowned Welsh Alliance League champions.

On a hard, dry pitch at Nantlle Vale’s Maes Dulyn ground, with a fiercely swirling wind that made control difficult, both sides struggled to play possession football.

The Gwynedd side got the best possible start as they took the lead after just eight minutes as Glan failed to deal with a high ball and a cross from the right was converted by Tomos Smith.

Glan were indebted to keeper Ben Heald when he dived to his left and managed to flip a shot from Neil Thomas onto the bar and over, but Penrhyn were also fortunate just before the break when a delightful chip from McGonigle came back off a post.

Five minutes into the second period Glantraeth were level, as top scorer McGonigle pulled the ball back from near the byline for Matty Lock to finish well.

The pressure was now on Penrhyn with Harry Galeotti only inches away from Darren Gowans’ cross, and then Galeotti fired over the bar just a minute later.

It took a tremendous tackle from Glan’s Gerwyn Jones right on the hour as Smith bore in on goal, and then Tom Hughes shot over for Penrhyn, but with no further scoring the game entered extra-time.

A stalemate was looking likely and a second penalty shoot-out in a week for Glantraeth, after their Mawddach Cup defeat.

McGonigle, however, struck in the 117th minute.

Controlling a long ball from Tom Clarke, he fired low and hard past Penrhyn keeper Robert Watson for the winning goal – and it was Glantraeth captain Matty Lock who was presented with the trophy at the end.