CP Ajax victory was 'written in the stars’ according to captain Larkin

CP Ajax were still basking in the glory of their inaugural Challenge Cup triumph on Sunday last when captain Ryan Larkin was trying to piece together his thoughts on a momentous achievement.

When it was put to him that he was the first man to captain the club to this important piece of silverware, Larkin’s smile became wider, admitting that relief was the primary emotion coursing through his body.

“It is a big achievement. The big thing is relief after that as Cloonfad threw everything at us. They were probably a bit unlucky not to get a second goal on a couple of occasions.

“We had big belief in ourselves, and I knew once we got the first goal back, we would start playing. We did take the ball down and get moving but it was tough. Maybe the conditions didn’t help us, but everyone dug in and we are delighted now to get over the line,” he explained.

CP Ajax manager Donal Coyne stated that the Challenge Cup was not solely won last Sunday.

He highlighted the work being done at underage level alongside the determination of the playing group to finally secure a significant piece of silverware.

“It is absolutely outstanding. Cloonfad are a good team, an up and coming side. They play a good style of football and were hard beaten. They had us rattled in the first half and probably had more chances than we did.

“The lads said that they were going to win something, and they put their mind to it all year. They have achieved it for themselves. They are a good bunch of lads. It is well-deserved. It is not just this year, it is down to the last few years, so thank god we got over the line,” he proudly exclaimed.

After a rocky start to the season, CP Ajax managed to avoid the relegation battle that engulfed the four teams below them in the Premier Division. The captain felt that once his side beat Moore United in the league and secured their status, they were able to attack this competition.

“We had a couple of big games and a big game against Moore sealed the deal for us. We got the heads up and the tails up. We said we fancied the cup, so we said we would see what happens. It was written in the stars because we don’t usually do that well in the cup but this year it seemed to happen for us, so we are all delighted,” noted Larkin.

Despite admitting the final stages were anxiety-ridden, Coyne noted the contributions of two-goal hero Pedro Jailes, and goalkeeper Killian Higgins, who produced a game-defining stop to deny Conor Flynn moving Cloonfad 2-1 in front.

He (Pedro Jailes) is an outstanding player. Any time he puts on the shirt he gives you one hundred percent. He has done unreal for us all year. In all the big games, he has stepped up, so I am delighted he got them. Fair play to him.

“I’ve absolutely no nails left. I would say it was very nerve-wracking. Killian there in goals pulled off a few fine saves and the boys did fierce well getting their tackles in defence so overall I am delighted. They definitely deserved it for the effort they put in all year,” he noted.

The CP Ajax manager was eager for his side to bask in the glory of this cup run after securing a memorable comeback win in Sunday’s final.

“It has been years since we have had anything like this. It is the first time we have won it and the first time in over 20 years that we reached the final. In 2015 we had the Division Two Cup but by God there won’t be a sheep sheared in Castleplunkett after that! We will celebrate and it is well-deserved. The community deserves it, so we will enjoy it now for the next few days,” he concluded.