Ferrybank sprang a surprise last night to deny FAI Junior Cup champions Villa a historic treble.
All was going to plan for Villa when Dean Walsh's 42nd goal of the season put them in front on 16 minutes.
But Ferrybank equalised 6 minutes before the break as Eoin Rhodes was on hand to find the net.
And right on the cusp of half time, Justin Croke popped up to strike what proved to be the winner as the Abbeylands men held on for a 2-1 success in the Jimmy Searson Memorial Premier Cup Final.
Speaking to WLR Sport after the game, Ferrybank manager, Richard Gaffney says it was great to come away with silverware...
"It's been a long, hard season and to get a trophy after the Covid years where we were looking like winning a league and then Covid hit and put a dampner on a lot of things for us.
"We were trying to get fellows back and fellows went away... so, just to get a trophy at the end of the season is just fantastic."
Continuing, Gaffney said it would have been heart-breaking to leave the year without having won a cup:
"We put a team together over the last 6 to 8 years and it was just coming right when Covid hit and we were beaten in a play-off against Carrick. The following year we went on and probably would have won it, apart from Covid.
"But look, these lads give everything for you. Every week they give everything. And it's just great to walk out with a trophy tonight."
