FAI Schools First Year Boys National Cup Semi Final (Under 14, Large Schools)
Saturday, May 17, 2025
St. Flannan’s College, Ennis 3-2 St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam
Ben Lyne (20, 45, 50) Michael Lardner (35, 38)
ST. FLANNAN’S COLLEGE, ENNIS came from a goal behind and a man down to take the win against St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam in Maree Oranmore on Tuesday afternoon, May 13.
Ben LYNE netted a hat-trick to cancel out Michael LARDNER’s brace to see McNeilis’ side advance despite losing Alfie Treacy four minutes from the first-half interval.
St. Flannan’s College girls have a fabulous Cup campaign nearly twenty years ago, netting a First Year Under 14 Girls National trophy in 2007. The same crew went on to win the Minor Cup Under 15 Girls title the following season, 2008. Since then, there has been a hiatus for the schools teams. It’s nice to see the Ennis outfit return to the National stages.
It was twenty minutes before the five goal spree commenced as some quick feet from Ben LYNE from six yards out, saw him slot past Crisham.
Then Ennis were dealt a body blow six minutes later as Alfie Treacy was shown a straight red for his last ditch tackle on Michael Lardner who was through on goal. The resulting free-kick just outside the box was caught brilliantly from Graham O’Connor who got down well to keep his side in contention.
1-0 to St. Flannan’s at the break.
St. Jarlath’s star Michael LARDNER equalised five minutes into the restart with a pacy run forward to split through the Ennis defence for a lovely finish, 1-1.
LARDNER netted a second three minutes later to give St. Jarlath’s the lead.
However, Ben LYNE popped up for his second of the afternoon to equalise for St. Flannan’s College midway through the half.
With ten minutes left, LYNE completed his hat-trick with a delightful run to curl the ball into the back of the Tuam net.
The Tuam scholars just couldn’t mount a comeback in the remaining time despite their best efforts as St. Flannan’s recorded an epic victory.
St. Flannan’s College, Ennis will face Scoil Dara, Kilcock in the National Cup decider, which is scheduled for Athlone Town AFC on Monday, May 26 (1.0).
ST. FLANNAN’S COLLEGE, ENNIS | Graham O’Connor, Michael O’Leary, Oran Biswas, Alfie Treacy, Cian O’Dwyer, Erik Bejenarin ©, Seamus Ryan, Oscar Deegan, Alex Malone, Ben Lyne, Daire Cullinan
SUBS (ROLL ON/OFF) |Bob Casey, Austin McCarthy, Tadhg Moloney, Jack Barrett, Donncha Ryan, Sean Daly, Eoin McInearty
TEACHERS |Caoilfhinn McNeilis, Francis O’Reilly
ST. JARLATH’S COLLEGE, TUAM | Evan Crisham, Ciaran Burns, Joseph Daly, Conor O’Malley, Szyman Jarecki, Orry Higgins ©, Cathal Comer, Eanna Glynn, Samuel Birrane Henderson, Michael Lardner, Filip Wisniewski
SUBS (ROLL ON /OFF) | Conor Fitzsimons, Rhys Costello, Charlie Ryan Burke, Oisin Finn, Fiachra Boyle, Noah Cunningham Walsh, Jake Murphy
TEACHERS | Aaran Fahy, Martin Grogan
MATCH OFFICIAL | Gary Small (Galway)
