Limerick CBS celebrate their first national title in FAI Schools' Cup
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Date: Wednesday, 21 March 2007 Section: Schools
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Limerick CBS 2 - 0 Virginia College, Cavan
S Clarke 23’ (pen), 41’
Limerick CBS bridged a gap of 31 years when they lifted the Dr. Tony O’Neill Cup in winning the FAI Schools’ Irish Senior Cup final at Belfield. The Shannonsiders had tasted defeat in twelve previous national semi-finals at all grades before finally making the breakthrough.
They brushed aside the challenge of newcomers Virginia College, who are only playing soccer for the past five years, though the Cavan side refused to concede defeat and battled to the end of what was an entertaining encounter.
Limerick started the stronger and dominated the opening exchanges with top scorer Shane Clarke looking hungry and he linked well with fellow striker Kevin Barry to force a number of chances in the opening minutes.
He forced an excellent save from Fergal Flanagan inside two minutes when he took a fine pass from Bobby Gregg but his left footed effort was saved at the near post.
Virginia were struggling with the pace of the game in this opening quarter and a long range shot from Adrian Cole was the best they could muster. It was inevitable that Limerick would break the deadlock sooner rather than later and the goal came on twenty three minutes.
Eoin Hanrahan picked up the ball on the left flank and his surging run brought him into the penalty area. As he ran along the end line, it was a rash tackle from Killian Lynch that saw referee Tom Connolly point to the penalty spot. Clarke stepped up to fire a low ball to the right and Flanagan had no chance.
Sexton Street continued the dominate the half and were rewarded four minutes from the break when Hanrahan produced another surging run to the end line and when he slipped the ball back, Clarke was on hand to fire home from close range.
Virginia took the opportunity to regroup during the break and with Alan Cusack replacing Lynch, the side looked a lot more balanced. They nearly pulled one back six minutes into the second period when Diarmuid Foxe got around Brian Collopy in the Limerick goal but his effort was taken off the line by Pat Collins.
Virginia kept pressing and but for two magnificent saves from Collopy in the space of a minute, they could have been right back in the hunt. A corner was cleared only as far as Gary Daly whose volley was tipped over the cross bar by the Limerick goalkeeper and from the resulting corner he was called upon to make a similar diving save to deny Cole.
However, Limerick CBS weathered the storm and held out to deservedly lift the trophy.
Limerick CBS: B Collopy, E O Sullivan, P Collins, E Hehir, P Mullins, B Gregg, E Hanrahan, J Hughes S Wyse 53’), S Clarke, K Barry (D Clancy 80’), J Judge (S Considine 90’)
Virginia College: F Flanagan, P Queally, J McEnroe, D Barkey, K Lynch (A Cusack 45’), G Daly, D Foxe, C Smith (S Wright 84’), A Cole, C Sexton (D Smith 84’), P Cusack
Referee: T Connolly (Dublin)