Sport
8 August, 2026
Lions defeat Bulls 2-1 in Italian Festival match
LEICHHARDT Lions produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat Mareeba Bulls 2-1 on Saturday night, claiming both the three competition points and the prestigious Premier Moriconi/Bomben Cup in a memorable Cairns Italian Festival clash at Johnson Road, White Rock.
The annual fixture celebrated the proud Italian heritage shared by both clubs and attracted a strong crowd, who were rewarded with an entertaining contest that wasn’t decided until late in the game.
The visitors stunned the home side almost immediately when 16-year-old debutant Colin Walsh announced himself on the premier division stage.
The talented youngster provided an excellent assist inside the opening minute, setting up Braith De Faveri to give Mareeba a dream start.
The early setback forced the Lions to regroup as the Bulls controlled much of the opening half. Mareeba’s disciplined defence and composed ball movement frustrated the home side, who struggled to create clear-cut opportunities despite enjoying periods of possession.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Lions emerged after the break with renewed purpose and began to apply greater pressure.
While the slippery playing surface made quality football difficult for both teams, Leichhardt gradually found their rhythm and pushed higher up the field.
Their persistence paid dividends in the 60th minute when Dylan Gawronski found the equaliser, calmly finishing to bring the Lions back on level terms and ignite the contest.
With momentum now on their side, Leichhardt continued to press forward as both teams searched for a winning goal.
The Bulls defended resolutely, but the Lions remained patient, circulating the ball well and waiting for their opportunity.
As the match entered the closing stages, the home side found the breakthrough they had been searching for. Emmanuel Dushimamana rose to the occasion in the 82nd minute, scoring the decisive goal to complete the comeback and spark jubilant celebrations among the Lions players and supporters.
The dramatic 2-1 victory secured all three competition points and saw Leichhardt retain bragging rights by lifting the Premier Moriconi/Bomben Cup in front of an appreciative Italian Festival crowd.
