O’Sullivan hits late match winner
Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup Semi Final
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
St. Francis College, Rochestown 1-0 St. Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall
David O’Sullivan (88)
David O’Sullivan was the hero for Roco with a dramatic late winner two minutes from time to ensure St. Francis College’s passage into the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup FINAL. The Rochestown lads had it all to play for when they faced Leinster stars St. Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall in an enthralling encounter at the RSC, Waterford last Thursday (March 9).
It was the Dubliners’ who had the first opportunity to open the scoring as Gavin Harney headed down into the box following an in swinging pass from Schools International star Steven Nolan after good work down the flank by Adam Duffy. Harney’s effort rebounded off the post.
Mark O’Connell had a volley blocked on the end of Donagh Gribbon pass and while there were appeals for a handball, play was waved on by match official Noel Ryan. The resulting corner by Gribbon was met nicely by David Nason but it tailed high over the upright.
There was another talking point 13 minutes later as Rochestown taliman’s Padraig Hickey fell in the box but play was waved on by Ryan yet again.
Seán Cummins forced an excellent save from Matthew Collins in the St. Francis goal and the subsequent corner was also palmed to safety from the inform keeper on the half hour mark.
Six minutes later, it was the turn of Mark Kenny in goal to advert Padraig Hickey’s screamer from the edge of the box.
With half time fast approaching, David O’Sullivan’s glancing header was agonising wide of the mark to end the half in dramatic fashion.
Several great chances scorned in the opening period, goalless at the interval.
Aaron Malone and Gavin Harney should have scored on the hour mark for the Whitehall School as Collins slipped in the box but the duo missed the open goal much to the frustration of their bench.
Seán Cummins was gifted an opener but he overworked the ball in the danger zone which gave Ger O’Mahony time to intercept with seven minutes of action remaining.
With 88 minutes on the clock, up popped centre-forward O’Sullivan who produced the magic as his bullet smashed past the diving Mark Kenny for a marvellous goal to end the contest for the Whitehall side.
A first appearance for St. Francis College in the Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Cup which is pencilled in for Wednesday, March 22 at 1pm in Home Farm FC, Whitehall.
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE, ROCHESTOWN | Matthew Collins, Ger O’Mahony, James Sheehan, David Nason, Rob Slevin, Donagh Gribbon, Seán Hillard, Gordon Walker (Captain), Mark O’Connell, Dave O’Sullivan, Padraig Hickey.
SUBS | Rory Doyle for O’Connell (67), Ross Slevin for Hickey (85), Niall Brennan, Andrew Hickey, Mark Donlon, Donal McGrath & Stephen Griffin
TEACHERS | Eoin O’Flaherty & Nevin Connick
ST. AIDAN’S CBS, WHITEHALL | Mark Kenny, Adam Duffy, Aaron Malone, Keith Campbell, Eric Andrews, Gavin Harney, Jack McMahon, Jamie Delaney (Captain), Steven Nolan, Seán Cummins, Darren Barry.
SUBS | Jamie Byrne Carrig for Barry (52), Jack Murray for Harney (67), Oisin Gannon, Stephen Kiely & Cillian Carroll (not used)
TEACHERS | Darragh Humphreys & Michael Kelly
REFEREE | Noel Ryan (Waterford)
