O’Malley saves day for Rice College
Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup Semi Final
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Carndonagh Community School 1-1 Rice College, Westport (AET)
Darragh Deery (30) Paul Doyle (40)
Rice College won 4-3 on pens
Defending Champions Carndonagh were knocked out of the Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Cup following a penalty shoot-out in IT Sligo last Tuesday (March 7) by surprise package Rice College of Westport.
Paddy O’Malley was the main man for Westport who saved two of the penalties to ensure his side a first National Cup appearance at Senior level for the Connacht stars.
The Donegal outfit were looking to make a major statement of intent with their crusade to be crowned back to back Champions as Darragh Deery had a delightful snap shot on goal inside the first minute of action but his effort sailed just over the head of O’Malley.
Daniel Houghton was alert to a Cian Dunne set piece which was saved confidently eight minutes later.
Carndonagh were orchestrating a well-tuned game plan and were pressing high for an early advantage in this tie.
Their hard working ethos was rewarded on the half hour mark as the energetic Darragh Deery was taken down in the box. Match official John Barry had no option but to award the penalty. Cathal Farren dispatched the spot kick with ease to give his side a slender lead.
It only took the impressive Rice College to find an equaliser ten minutes on as Jack Murphy sent an inviting ball into the box from a corner kick. The looping ball was met by Paul Doyle who slotted home to make it one apiece.
With only two minutes remaining from the break, another penalty was awarded, this time to the Westport School as Emmet Rowley tumbled to the deck. Goal scorer Doyle stepped up to double his tally for the afternoon but the ball smashed off the post and out, much to the relief of the Carndonagh crew.
All square at the interval.
Luke Tunney came close to scoring but his effort was cleared off the line after a great through ball from substitute Peter Corcoran six minutes in.
Cian McAllister was impressive throughout and linked well with Doyle and Dunne but they couldn’t convert any real opportunities as full time approached.
Sam Todd saw his header glance wide of the upright four minutes into extra time. This was quickly followed by Cathal Farren’s pile driver seconds later as Patrick Lambert cleared the danger.
Annoyingly Paul Doyle scorned a wonderful chance to get the vital winner as he scuffed his attempt to the side netting right at the end of extra time having beaten Houghton in goal.
The dreaded penalty shoot-out ensued with O’Malley standing tall to divert two of Carn’s shots on target to make it a 4-3 victory to Rice College in a wet and windy outing in Sligo.
The Westport side now move onto the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Cup Final which will take place on Wednesday, March 22 in Home Farm FC, Whitehall (KO 1pm)
CARNDONAGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Daniel Houghton, James McLunney, Lee McColgan, Sam Todd (Captain), Tiarnan Devine, Kieran Fayner, Evan Twead, Fionn McClure, Michael Friel, Cathal Farren, Darragh Deery
SUBS: Jack Doherty for Tweed (58), Oisin Hesson, Corey McBride for Friel (77), Brendan Doherty, Jake Hanhan
TEACHER: Martin Cavanagh
RICE COLLEGE, WESTPORT: Patrick O’Malley, Michael O’Brien (Captain), Eoin Conway, Patrick Lambert, Brian O’Malley, Cian McAllister, Jack Murphy, Paul Doyle, Emmet Rowley, Cian Dunne, Luke Tunney
SUBS: John Keane, Cian Kennedy, Rory Brickenden, Jack Carney, Peter Corcoran for Rowley (48)
TEACHERS: Brendan Clarke, Colin McConway
REFEREE: John Barry (Sligo)
