De La Salle College, Waterford 3/2 Limerick CBS, Sexton Street,
A O’Connor (9), D Pender (20), J Brown (43 pen) E Shine (6), S Walsh (65 pen)
REPORT COURTESY OF PETE MUNROE (DLS)
The stage was set on Wednesday last (March 26) for the pinnacle of FAI Schools Soccer in Munster when the clash of the heavyweights, Limerick CBS and De La Salle, Waterford, came head to head to try and claim the Munster Dr: Tony O’Neill Cup title:
An intense rivalry has developed over the last 20 years, making this an eagerly awaited clash: Over the last 10 years the Sexton Street outfit have had the bragging rights at senior level competing in 9 senior finals winning 6 of them compared to De La Salle who had won 2:
So 12 months on from last year’s U17 Munster Final between the same two teams, which De La Salle won on penalties after a 0/0 stalemate, who were going to get the bragging rights this year?
Both teams had come into the Final with comprehensive wins in the semi final fixtures, so the large crowd made up mainly from Limerick, hoped for a more open game than 12 months ago:
Limerick CBS were quickly out of the blocks and aided by a stiff diagonal breeze they immediately had the De La Salle team under pressure:
It was no surprise when the Limerick lads opened the scoring on the 6 minute mark: A long ball out of defence was flicked on and sent the Limerick danger man Evan Shine through on goal: Keeping his composure he drew the DLS goalie Stephen Doheny before calmly stroking the ball into the corner of the net:
Within 3 minutes, out of nothing DLS were level: Josh Aimiuhi controlled a ball played up to him just inside the Limerick half, beating two defenders; he laid the ball out to his strike partner Aaron O’Connor in space on the right: With open space in front of him Aaron advanced about 10 yards and spotting the keeper slightly off his line angled a 25 yard drive across the goalie and into the top right corner: What had been a loud Limerick support, were suddenly silenced:
Growing in confidence after this wonder strike, the DLS team started to control the ball for longer periods without really threatening the Limerick rearguard:
On the 20 minute mark with the ball being fought for just outside the Limerick box, the ball was half cleared and it fell invitingly for Daniel Pender: Without hesitating Daniel unleashed a thundering volley from fully 30 yards which found the top left of the corner without the goalie moving:
What had been a great half for the Waterford School got better on the stroke of half time:
Josh Aimiuhi won the ball out on the left and drove towards the goal: A desperate lunge took Josh’s legs away and the referee immediately pointed to the spot without any protests: Cool as can be, up stepped James Brown to place his kick into the bottom corner, just beyond the despairing reach of the CBS net minder to make the score 3/1 to DLS at halftime:
Could the reigning Munster Senior Champions make a second half come back?
The second half started like the first with CBS laying siege to the DLS goal:
A great piece of skill from Evan Shine took him clear of two defenders and from a tight angle he unleashed a strike that came back off the DLS crossbar with the goal keeper beaten:
Playing three up front they kept pumping high balls into the DLS area each time they got the ball:
The Deise back four not only cleared the ball but usually returned it with interest back deep into the Limerick half:
With both teams cancelling each other out no other clear chances fell to either team:
On the 65 minute mark the DLS rearguard was breached again to give the Limerick school the lifeline they needed:
A clumsy challenge just inside the area and another penalty
Up stepped Shane Walsh to blast the ball to the back of the net:
The large Limerick support upped the noise level, only for the Waterford team to continue to frustrate them:
De La Salle had a few chances to kill the game off with lightening breaks:
Into the last 10 minutes, Aaron O’Connor had an effort cleared off the line and Jeff De Silva, who replaced Josh Aimuihi, saw a wonderful effort come back off the bar after dancing past three lunging tackles outside the CBS box:
Deep into stoppage time and one last effort from Limerick CBS sailed narrowly over the DLS crossbar: The referee blew his whistle to start wonderful celebrations for the Waterford school:
In the presentation speech the Limerick manager Michael Molyneaux paid tribute to both teams for serving up a wonderful soccer match:
Admitting DLS were deserving victors he made reference to the two wonder strikes that took the game away from his team:
De La Salle: Stephen Doheny, Dylan Walsh, Ross Battye, Maurice Shanahan (Capt), Ross Fitzpatrick, Andrew Phelan (Jeff De Silva 84 mins), Daniel Pender, James Brown, Jack Maher, Josh Aimiuhi (Luke Power 78 mins), Aaron O’Connor
Subs not used: James Grogan, Illiah Corcoran, Adam Flynn, Roy Power, Dylan Maguire, Luke O’Connor:
Limerick CBS: Evan Moloney, Niall McNamara, Lee White, James Walsh, Connor Madden, Darren Roche, Jamie Bromwell, Glenn O’Connor, Evan Shine, Shane Walsh, Kevin Slattery
Subs: Gavin Hehir, Gavin Mullins, Noel White, Craig Downes, Ciaran Rainsfore