Monday, October 19, 2009
Leinster secured their eighth title in ten years when they landed the FAI Schools Senior Boys’ Interprovincial title after a fantastic 3 day tournament in Athlone IT yesterday (Sunday, 18 October).
Paddy O’Reilly’s side went into the final game against Connacht needing just a point to retain the title for the third consecutive year. A resolute Leinster ensured that the crown would be retained as they played out a nil all draw in a pulsating conclusion to the weekend’s activities.
It was no more than Leinster deserved as they battled hard to overcome Ulster and Munster in the opening rounds while sharing the points with Connacht. In Friday’s encounters, late goals proved to be the order of the day as Connacht and Munster drew 1-1 while Leinster drew first blood with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ulster deep into injury time.
In the opening game on Friday evening in Tullamore, it was Munster who got off the mark with a great goal by Kevin Gunne of Clonmel. The shot deceived goalkeeper Ronan Burke and rattled the bottom corner of the Connacht net with six minutes played.
Munster thought they had done enough to earn themselves the 2 points but Connacht bounced back with five minutes remaining. Enda Curran did great work down the right to put Billy Lane through on goal. The instant strike from Lane was placed beautifully and gave goalkeeper Alan Burns no chance.
Both sides could have registered a late winner as Craig Vernon, CBS Tramore was through on goal but made little of this effort which sailed past an open goal.
Seconds later Enda Curran of St. Enda’s College, Galway missed as his strike sailed inches over the bar two minutes from time. In the second of the evening’s fixtures, Leinster kicked off their title hopes with a frantic game against Ulster. The northern men looked the better as Chris McBride, Paul McVeigh and Gavin McGlanaghey impressed.
There were errors made in the Ulster midfield which were exploited by Sean Skelly and Michael Gleeson on a number of occasions. However it was Thomas Boyle of Salesian College who came agonisingly close as his header was cleared off the line by an alert Rory Dunleavy. Michael Cannon was ever present to defend the rebounding shot from Michael Gleeson.
The athletic Marty McGinty kept the Ulster men in contention when he pulled out two marvellous saves early in the second half. The first coming from Sean Skelly while Jack Tim Murphy thought his effort had registered but McGinty’s out stretched hand did enough to see the ball race past the far post. Ulster were caught on the counter attack as Robert Gaul released Adam Hanlon early with a great ball from defence. Hanlon managed to cross to the impressive Eoin Fowler of St. Joseph’s Fairview.
The youngster found space in the six yard box and squeezed his shot past McGinty to secure the points with a splendid goal. Saturday afternoon saw Munster up against Leinster in the first of the day’s fixtures while Ulster would face Connacht.
Two goals from the versatile Sean Skelly secured the valuable points for Leinster with a 2-0 win over Munster. The second of Skelly’s goals coming from the penalty spot in the second half.
Connacht came from behind to win their first match of the series at the expense of Ulster.
Ulster were first to make an impact when Kieran McDaid from Buncrana put the northerners in front with a quarter of an hour played. Connacht responded almost immediately but Captain Daryl Horgan’s sweet strike was met by a more determined net minder in Inver College’s Finian Farrelly as he produced the save of the tournament.
With four minutes remaining in the first half, Summerhill’s Barry O’Mahoney equalised under controversial circumstances. The referee had awarded a free kick to Connacht but Ulster’s defence were still sorting out their wall when O’Mahoney shot early and left the goalkeeper dumbfounded.
Connacht’s momentum carried forward into the second half which reaped dividends as twelve minutes in, Billy Lane headed in their second from the six yard box. 2-1 it finished with Ulster desperately unlucky not to score an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game. #Ulster deservedly registered their first win of the tournament with a hard fought victory over Munster on Sunday morning.
Milford’s Paul McVeigh got on the score sheet with a superb goal early in the first half.
Munster pushed forward with efforts from Kealan O’Gorman and Paddy Barrett but unfortunately their attempts could not get past the in-form keeper, Marty McGinty.
Leinster and Connacht faced off in the final game of the series.
A win for Brian Lacey’s side could etch Connacht’s name in the history books and make it bitter sweet revenge for last year’s upset.
However, Leinster had come to the midlands to retain the title and Paddy O’Reilly was determined to remain unbeaten in their last fixture.
Connacht enjoyed the early exchanges with good link play from Ross Kenny and Darly Horgan. Tom Curran and colleague Shane Keogh were outstanding in defence and were put under pressure from the speedy Jack Tim Murphy and Daragh Walshe.
Their terrific efforts were hampered by the presence of Marty Owens and James Casserly. The game came to life in the second half when sharp shooters Sean Skelly, Fairview and Billy Lane, Athenry both had great opportunities to wrap up proceedings. The boys were extremely disappointed not to see their efforts rewarded but credit to both goalkeepers as Craig Hanlon from Athboy and Ronan Burke from Galway were up for the challenge and put in match winning performances to ensure the deadlock remained. Frustration for Connacht yet again as they fall short of snatching victory over old rivals Leinster.
Lacey’s side were impressive throughout their campaign and can be satisfied of their match winning performance against Ulster and their draw to Munster and Champions Leinster in a highly competitive tournament this year. The other provinces were evenly matched and ensured an entertaining group of games which will give the International management food for thought.
Dave Archbold and his colleagues will have a difficult task to whittle down a provisional squad to attend trials at the end of the month. Archbold is also conscious of the fact that a number of key players were unavailable at the weekend due to injury, club commitments and trials abroad.
A provisional panel of twenty will be selected to play New Zealand in late January before a final squad of sixteen is selected for the Carnegie Centenary Shield campaign which commences on March 17 against their counterparts Northern Ireland.
LINK TO IMAGES: http://www.faischools.ie/galleries-and-downloads/photo-gallery/87/boys-i...
PROVINCIAL PANELS:
Leinster: Craig Hanlon (Athboy Community School), Stephen Traynor (Belvedere College), Robert Gaul (Colaiste Choilm, Swords), Leigh Swords (Brunswick Street, CBS), Tomas Boyle (Salesian College, Celbridge), Shane McInerney (Athlone Community College), Conor Carberry (Pobailscoil Iosa, Malahide), Adam Hanlon (Arklow Community College), Sean Skelly (St. Joseph’s) Michael Gleeson (Chanel College), Jack Tim Murphy (St. Peter’s College, Wexford), Gary Shaw (Patrician Secondary School), Daragh Walshe (St. Kieran’s College), Eoin Fowler (Pobailscoil Neasain, Baldoyle), Jake Carroll (Confey Community College, Leixlip), Greg Murray (Phobailscoil Iosaide, Palmerstown)
Management: Paddy O’Reilly (Trinity Comprehensive, Ballymun), John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy), Conor Foley (Athlone Community College), Ger Prendergast (Physio)
Munster: Alan Burns (Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh), Lee O’Mara (CBS, Limerick), Kevin Barry (St. Paul’s Community College, Waterford), David Cowpar (Crescent Comprehensive, Limerick), Brian Nolan (St. Paul’s Community College), Cian Byrnes (CBS, Limerick), Shane Nolan (St. Paul’s Community College), Paddy Barrett (Mt. Sion, Waterford), Kevin Gunne (CBS, Clonmel), Craig Vernon (CBS, Tramore), Gary O’Connor (CBS, Limerick), Kealan O’Gorman (Cashel Community School, Tipperary), Shane Geesley (Colaiste Mhuire), Andrew Bandarker (PBC, Cork), Eoin Farrell (Rockwell College), Mark O’Reilly (CBS, Tramore)
Management: Dave Dineen (CBS, Clonmel), Darius Delahunty (CBS, Clonmel), Gerry Hough (Rockwell College)
Ulster: Marty McGinty (Deele College, Raphoe), Rory Dunleavy (St. Columbas College, Stranorlar), Declan Proctor (Garmscoil Mhic Diarmada, Aranmore Island), Michael Cannon (PCC, Falcarragh), Raymond Foy (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar), Chris McBride (St. Columba’s College), Ryan McClenaghan (Moville Community College), Paul McVeigh (Mulroy College, Milford), Gavin McGlanaghey (Garmscoil Mhic Diarmada), Kieran mcdaid (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Seamus Doherty (Carndonagh Community School), Conor O’Rourke (Finn Valley College), Conor Moynagh (St. Aidan’s Comprehensive, Cootehill), David Materson (Largy College, Clones), Jack McCarron (Largy College), Finian Farrelly (Inver College, Carrickmacross)
Management: John Kerr (Patrician High School, Carrickmacross), Paddy Carr (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Seamus Gallagher (Moville Community College), Conal McBride (Inver College, Carrickmacross).
Connacht: Ronan Burke (St. Mary’s College, Galway), Martin Owens (St. Josephs SS, Charlestown), Shane Keogh (St. Mary’s College), Thomas Curran (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), James Casserly (St. Mary’s College), Ross Kenny (St. Mureduch’s College, Ballina), Shane Gallagher (St. Mary’s College), Daryl Horgan (St. Enda’s College, Galway), Adam Hynes (Summerhill College, Sligo), Billy Lane (Presentation College, Athenry), Padraic Collins (St. Mureduch’s College), Rory Gartlan (St. Mary’s College), Barry McEntee (St. Mary’s College), Barry O’Mahony (Summerhill College), Enda Curran (St. Enda’s College, Galway), Mark Duffy (St. Mureduch’s College)
Management: Brian Lacey & Emmet Peyton (St. Mureduch’s College), Michael Feeney.
INTERPROVINCIAL FIXTURES:
Friday 16th October
(Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore)
Munster 1-1 Connacht
Leinster 1-0 Ulster
Saturday 17th October
(Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore)
Munster 0-2 Leinster
Connacht 2-1 Ulster
Sunday 18th October (Athlone IT)
Ulster 1-0 Munster
Leinster 0-0 Connacht
POINTS Leinster 5 Connacht 4 Ulster 2 Munster 1
BOYS’ INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES:
23-30 January Friendly Republic of Ireland v Australia
17 March Carnegie Centenary Shield Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland
25 March Carnegie Centenary Shield Wales v Republic of Ireland
2 April Carnegie Centenary Shield Republic of Ireland v Scotland
12 April Friendly Republic of Ireland v New Zealand
30 April Carnegie Centenary Shield England v Republic of Ireland
NOTE TO EDITOR
Student Travelcard are proud sponsors of the Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament this year. Student Travelcard is Ireland’s leading National student discount card and student website offering exclusive travel discounts of up to 40% on Irish Rail, Dart, Dublin Bus and LUAS and thats 40% on each trip! There are also over 200 discounts available to cardholders on production of the card in Ireland. These include hotels, heritage centres, gyms, food, entertainment and online. This year Student Travelcard have partnered with the FAI, Champion Sports, cdwow, AIB, the GAA, McDonald’s, Boots, 02, Topshop, Say it Travel, Peter Mark and the Lash Bar to offer students exclusive discounts with their Student Travelcard. The card costs €12 and has a 16 month shelf life and is available to any student in full time second or third level education. For more information on the Student Travelcard you can check out www.studenttravelcard.ie