Malahide Community School 1/0 Clonkeen College, Blackrock
Mark Brennan
TEN/MAN Malahide Community School are Umbro FAI Schools Dr: Tony O’Neill Leinster champions for 2012 after a 1/0 win over Clonkeen College, Blackrock in today’s final (January 25):
A first/half goal from Mark Brennan was enough to give Malahide victory, despite the second/half dismissal of defender Glen Daly at the South Dublin Football League Complex:
The final was set for a mouth watering tie as both sides went into the game in ominous form, with Malahide brushing aside St Joseph’s in the semi/finals (3/1) and Clonkeen putting four past Coláiste Chiarain on their way to the final (4/0):
The Blackrock outfit had two schools International lining out with Ryan Matthews and Paul Moffat togging out: The duo will appear on Friday’s Friendly against Australia as the Republic of Ireland Schools team kick off their season in the Oscar Traynor Centre (KO 2pm): The inclusion of Matthews was a major boost for Andrew McBride’s side as the youngster recently returned from injury:
The Blackrock School had the opening chance of the game, with Ben McEntee firing a snapshot over the bar from the edge of the area on two minutes:
Malahide responded with chances for strike duo Conor Mullarkey and Dylan Cashin inside the opening 10 minutes, before Brennan opened the scoring by surprising goalkeeper Aidan Quinn with a disguised lob from distance:
Cashin went close later in the half as Malahide looked to be comfortable but McEntee struck the post with a close/range effort after Ryan Matthews nodded a free kick into his path:
The second period got off to an explosive start with Daly’s sending off Kevin Dunne was forced to save from McEntee seconds later as the striker broke free on goal:
Despite a header from Stephen Byrne just missing the target for Clonkeen, Malahide began to pass their way back into a position of control and Mullarkey almost sealed the win late on when he saw his five/yard shot saved by Quinn:
O’Sullivan and Tierney will be anxiously awaiting their All Ireland semi final opposition as Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana face PCC Falcarragh in the Ulster qualifiers in the coming weeks: Their All Ireland semi final is fixed for March 6 which will be a double header with the Senior Girls Cup:
MALAHIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Kevin Dunne; Jacob Ferguson, Colm Curtis, Glen Daly, Ciaran Callaghan, Mark Brennan, Eric Harold (John Walsh 77), Shane Woods, Dylan Cashin (Dylan McNulty 54), Conor Mullarkey, Ciaran McGahan:
Not used: Gavin O’Shaughnessy, Fionn Cahill, Brian Heffernan:
Teachers: Michael O’Sullivan and Stephen Tierney
CLONKEEN COLLEGE, BLACKROCK: Aidan Quinn; Daniel Flynn Fallon (Scott Maloney 75), Stephen Byrne, Jamie Costello, Ryan Matthews, Brian Allen, Ray Dunne, Stephen Mooney, Ben McEntee, Paul Moffatt, Mark O’Grady:
Not used: Neil Costello, Shane Whelan, Shaun De Wyspelaere, Lee Higgins:
Teacher: Andrew McBride
REFEREE: John Clarke:
