Douglas CS crowned Munster Champs in First Year Cup success
Bank of Ireland FAI Schools First Year Boys Munster Cup FINAL
Courtesy of Noel Spillane
Douglas Community School 1-1 St. Francis College, Rochestown (AET) Douglas won 2-1 on pens
DOUGLAS Community School’s midfielder and skipper Oran Crowe was the hero when he stepped into goal for the penalty shoot-out in the Bank of Ireland First Year Boys Munster Cup Final played on a fine surface at Corinthians Park in Castletreasure last Thursday, April 27.
The game was tied at 1-1 at the end of 20 minutes extra-time before a poor quality shoot-out ended with Douglas clinching the David Barry Cup on a 2-1 score line with Crowe saving the key spot-kicks for his side.
It was a tactical ploy by teacher-in-charge Seán Fahy for regular ‘keeper Michael O’Neill had a fine match too and stamped his authority on this provincial final and city derby with some great handling and punching from set plays in the first half.
After a goalless and evenly contested first half, Douglas stepped up their game and created some good chances with Crowe shooting over, Luke O’Leary had a shot blocked away and then centre-half Eoghan Nash headed Dylan Cotter’s free kick over as they chased a lead goal.
St. Francis College scored against the run of play on 50 minutes when Matthew Murphy’s 40 yard free kick slipped through O’Neill’s hands, but with five minutes to go, Douglas drew level when busy midfielder Oscar McCarthy volleyed home right-footed following a Crowe corner.
Rochestown’s Liam O’Flaherty was close to a winner in normal time but Eoghan Nash got in a great tackle to deny RoCo a goal after O’Neill had parried Clarke’s initial shot.
There were chances at both ends in extra-time when Linehan’s free kick was saved by Ben O’Leary and then RoCo’s O’Flaherty was denied by O’Neill’s timely save and Nash headed over from a corner before we went to the dreaded shoot-out.
Douglas CS will now meet CBS Wexford in the National Cup Semi-Final clash on Thursday, May 11 as Dungarvan United plays host (KO 1pm)
DOUGLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL | Michael O’Neill, Dylan Cotter, Eoghan Nash, Deri Delema, Conor Sheehey, Oscar McCarthy, Oran Crowe (Captain), Jacob Jackson, Luke O’Leary, Gerard Sweeney, JP Linehan
SUBS | Fionn Crowley for Jackson, Ugo Okonkwo for Sweeney, Sweeney for Okonkwo (all extra-time), Guillaime Lucas, Dylan Lyons & Stephen St Ledger (not used)
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE, ROCHESTOWN | Ben O’Leary, Eoin Curran, Jack Cunningham, Barry McCarthy (Captain), Adam McSweeney, Jay Clarke, Sean Cummins, Matthew Murphy, Adrien Thibaut, Andrew O’Brien, Liam O’Flaherty
SUBS | Paul Harding for E. Curran & Conor O’Donovan for O’Brien (both extra-time), Ryan Driscoll, Colm O’Sullivan, Sean Brady, Jack Rosengrave & Shane Darcy (not used)
REFEREE | Brian Forde (Cork)
