FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill National Senior Cup Semi Final (Under 19, Large Schools)
Friday, February 28, 2025
Blackrock College, Dublin 0-0 St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny (AET) Blackrock won 4-1 on pens
BLACKROCK COLLEGE goalkeeper Ronan FFRENCH saved two spot kicks in the penalty shoot-out to see them power past St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny yesterday afternoon in Oriel Park, Dundalk (Thursday, February 27).
The game finished goalless after extra time with little between the sides in a bruising encounter.
There was very few clear cut chances for either side in the first period.
Blackrock Captain Geordy Lavin came close in the second period as he chested down the ball superbly in the box but his effort on target drifted over the upright four minutes into the restart.
St. Eunan’s talisman Troy Preston Holder had a wonderful opportunity to break the deadlock two minutes into extra-time but he smashed the ball off the woodwork.
Blackrock also had a chance to convert just before the half-time interval when substitute Jack Kelly missed the target six metres out.
It ended scoreless after a pulsating conclusion to a highly entertaining clash as the penalty shoot-out would decide who advanced to this season’s Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup decider.
Blackrock’s Captain Lavin converting the first penalty of the day, while St. Eunan’s Kyle McLaughlin duly obliged.
Jack Luff netted Blackrock’s second while goalkeeper Ronan Ffrench stepped in to deny Daniel Noonan’s strike.
Conor O’Neill dispatched Blackrock’s third while Ffrench again stopped Mark Patterson’s effort.
This left it 3-1 to Blackrock with Archie Quinn netting the fourth and decisive penalty for the Leinster starlets as they took the win 4-1.
The Dublin outfit will await the winners of the other semi final pairing which sees St. Paul’s Community College, Waterford entertain Rice College, Westport in Frank Healy Park, Ennis on Monday afternoon (1.0)
The FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup Final is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 (1.0). Venue to be confirmed.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE, DUBLIN | Ronan Ffrench, Daniel Noonan, Harry Weir, Cormac Sheahan, Jack Liff, Conor O’Neill, Charlie Harty, Sam Mooney, Peter Walshe, Geordy Lavin ©, Archie Quinn
SUBS USED | Rees Dowling for Noonan (79), Jack Kelly for Harty (87)
SUBS NOT USED | Tommy Horkan, Jack McKinney, Charlie Clifton, Sam Lory, Conor Barrett
TEACHERS | Evan O’Brien, Peter Quinlan, Cian Nugent
ST. EUNAN’S COLLEGE, LETTERKENNY | Andrew Nicholls, Conor Bonner, Ronan Lynch, Jack Keys ©, Adam Bonner, Tiernan Callaghan, Kyle McLaughlin, Adam McDaid, Ronan O’Donnell, Fintan Hasson, Troy Peston Holder
SUBS USED | Mark Patterson for O’Donnell (79), Blake Meredith for Callaghan (79), Ciaran Logue for Preston Holder (95),
SUBS NOT USED | Adam Rodgers, Guillerme Tavares, Daire Hume, Davin Blake
TEACHERS | Daniel O’Donnell, Peter Lee
MATCH OFFICIAL | Niall Minto (Louth)
