TALLAGHT'S Jobstown Community College showed true character to earn a place in their first ever Umbro FAI Schools Senior 'B' National final with a dramatic semi/final win in Roscrea last week:
The Leinster champions came from behind twice against Munster champions Nagle Community College from Cork in Killavilla to set up the biggest day in the school's soccer history:
Seventeen years after winning their last piece of silverware // the Dublin Metropolitan League title on that occasion in 1992 // Jobstown will face Connacht champions Colaiste Mhuire from Ballymote in the coming weeks:
The Sligo school defeated Ulster's Finn Valley 1/0 in Ballyshannon but Jobstown coach Jim Halpin is not worrying too much about the opposition:
"I just hope that the lads go out and give it their all in the final and can come off the pitch saying they couldn't have given any more, no matter what the result," said Halpin, who has been in charge of soccer in the school for his entire 21/year tenure:
"If the lads do come off the pitch saying they have no regrets, that will give us a great chance of winning, but I certainly don't want the lads having any regrets afterwards:
"This is a huge deal for the school and the whole area has a huge interest in it so the lads should enjoy taking part in it:
"The fact that we have no real stars in this team is what has made us successful this year," added the coach:
"The players all get on really well off the pitch and they have used that bond to show some great character and come from behind in a lot of our games this season:"
Jobstown needed all that character their coach emphasised when Nagle took the lead early in the first half through Kevin O'Regan's right/footed effort:
It took the Dublin side until the second half to respond through a Morgan Burke header after the Cork side's defence failed to pick him up in the box from a corner:
Nagle were determined to regain the lead and Martin O'Donoghue was on hand to poke in the rebound and put his side ahead again after Peter Ward in goal had saved well:
Another corner was to be Nagle's achilles heal and this time it was James Nolan who poked the ball through a crowded area and beyond the helpless Shane Wright in goal to force the game into extra time:
Just when the game looked destined for penalties with the clock ticking down on extra time, Nolan popped up again, this time from outside the box and unleashed a tremendous 20/yard drive that gave his side the slender win on the day:
Jobstown Community College, Tallaght: Peter Ward, Bobinel Mazone, Steven McGregor, Darren Doyle, Morgan Burke, Niall Forrestor, Gary Byrne, Michael Doyle, James Nolan, Lee Dillon, Gary Ryan: Subs: Patrick Gorman, Gavin Fay, Liam Murphy, Burton, Lewis Loftus
Nagle Community College, Cork: Shane Wright, Michael Ahern, Alex Ahern, Brian Tabb, David Healy, Martin O'Donoghue, Damien Walsh, Graham Coleman, Roy Collins, Kevin O' Regan, Kevin Kelleher: Subs: Craig O'Donovan, Steven Hayes, Raymond Mullan, Shane O'Mahony, Gary O'Donovan:
/ Gavin Earley
