FAI Schools Tom Ticher National Junior Cup Final (Under 17, Large Schools)
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Wexford CBS 3-2 Presentation College, Athenry
Alex Norval (45), Charlie Mullan (77, 80+1), Anthony Poniard (22), Colm Doyle (24)
COLÁISTE ÉAMONN RÍS, WEXFORD CBS came from two goals down at half time to win 3-2 at the death to break Presentation College, Athenry hearts in Home Farm FC, Whitehall this afternoon (March 26).
It was a tale of two halves as a purple patch midway through the first period, saw the Connacht Champions convert two quick fire goals to go into the break with a solid advantage. However, Wexford dominated the second period to set the place alight in added time to take the title!
Unfortunately for Presentation College, it was a spate of disappointments in recent weeks as the extremely talented scholars were defeated in a Senior All Ireland Hurling Final and Junior Girls National Cup Final as the school reached phenomenal heights of late. Huge credit to the players who served up some delightful football during their Cup run this season.
It was fairytale stuff for the Wexford crew to come back in dramatic fashion to lift the title. A second National trophy for Whitty in three years following their Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Cup success over Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew in 2023 when they needed added time to snatch the match winner courtesy of Rory GILBERT that day in the AUL.
Both teams started positively with Wexford slightly edging the Cup tie in the opening quarter hour.
However, it was Athenry who struck first with Anthony PONIARD producing a sensational low drive from just inside the box, to the keepers right to open their account on 22 minutes.
The Galway side were exceptional and hit a second two minutes later when Captain Colm DOYLE headed home following an excellent cross from Rhys Lawless down the left flank to make it 2-0.
A crucial moment in the game came a minute from the break when inform Colm Doyle missed a penalty which surely converted, would take the tie from Wexford’s grasp. A lifeline of sorts for the CBS men as they went in two down at the interval.
Within five minutes of the restart, Wexford grabbed a vital goal back with Alex NORVAL slotting in from a well-executed set piece that saw Charlie Mullan deliver to the far post with Aaron O’Leary heading down onto the path of Norval, as he pounced from four yards out.
Wexford hit another gear with a multitude of missed chances early on as Buttle, Peiro Doyle and Mullan threatened for that elusive equaliser. The Athenry defence were under the cosh for sustained periods of the second half but defended admirably.
The CBS onslaught was rewarded three minutes from time when Paidi Griffin floated a dangerous high ball into the box for Charlie MULLAN to tap in to draw the sides level.
MULLAN’s second and Wexford’s third came four minutes later, an exquisite right footed effort from twenty yards out to clinch the match winner in added time.
Euphoria for Wexford, absolute agony for Athenry.
With nearly eight minutes of added time clocked up, it left for a tense conclusion to the finale. A truly remarkable comeback from the Wexford team to claim an unbelievable second National crown.
WEXFORD CBS | Cormac White, Alex Norval ©, Callan O’Grady, Paidi Griffin, Aaron O’Leary, Darragh Mallon, Danny Piero Doyle, Jamie Stafford Doyle, Darragh Buttle, Charlie Mullan, Rian O’Grady
SUBS USED | Jamie Breen for O’Grady (69), Jude Rossiter for Peiro Doyle (80+1)
SUBS NOT USED | Harry Maher, Maciej Stypula, Adam Codd, Rian Bracken, Danny Coughlan
EXTENDED SQUAD | Pierce Murphy, Conor Byrne, Ziggy Rossiter, Luke Colley, Josh Kendall, Darragh Rogan, Aaron Mullally, Eoin Bates, Billy Martin, Jack O’Neill, Seán Buggy
TEACHERS | Carolyn Connolly, Padraig Whitty
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY | Eoin Doyle, Alex Ryan, Devon Crawford, Cillian Sammon, Niall McCarthy, Ben Moran, Daniel Madden, Adam Lynn, Colm Doyle ©, Anthony Poniard, Rhys Lawless
SUBS USED | Alan Hallinan for Madden (52), Shay Brady for Lynn (78), Kian McLoughlin for Lawless (80), Robert Burke for Crawford (8o), Rian Donoghue for Poniard (80+5)
SUBS NOT USED | Oran Shaughnessy, Seán Langan
EXTENDED SQUAD | Ethan Horan, Colm McCarthy, Darragh Monaghan, Rory Haverty, Evan Hoarty, Shane Tomas, Jamie Mulderig, Diarmuid Kelleher, Cathal Costelloe, Robert Davey
TEACHERS | Jonathan Linnane, Joe Finnerty
MATCH OFFICIAL | Gregory Walls (Dublin)
