Jobstown Community College, Tallaght 1/ 1 Colaiste Muire, Ballymote (AET)
Jobstown win 8/7 on penalties
Jobstown Community College, Tallaght just pipped Coláiste Muire, Ballymote of Sligo after an enthralling UMBRO FAI School’s Senior ‘B’ Boys Cup Final at Athlone IT last Thursday reports Paul Healy: The Leinster team edging a tense penalty shoot out to win 8/7 (after the teams had finished 1/1 after both normal and extra time):
The Dublin side - managed by Jim Halpin - got an ideal start when, within the first ninety seconds, Morgan Burke punished some slack Ballymote defending of his side’s opening corner to give Jobstown an early lead (1/0):
However, the Alan Mannion managed Coláiste Muire recovered well from this early setback and - with their captain Gerry Brennan leading their revival - it was a weavy run from Brennan in the 44th minute that led to the Sligo team restoring parity; the Ballymote captain drawing a late challenge from Jobstown goalscorer Burke inside the penalty box and, taking the resulting spot/kick himself, Brennan converted at the second attempt after the Dublin side’s goalkeeper, Peter Ward, had parried Brennan’s initial attempt (1/1):
In the second/half of normal time Jobstown’s Lee Dillon had the ball in the net on 58 minutes (only to be ruled offside) and only a spectacular overhead goal/line clearance by Ballymote’s Liam O’Connell in the 73rd minute kept the sides on level terms:
The Dublin team continued to dominate in the final ten minutes of the opening ninety with, first, McCormack excellently tipping away a looping header before both Matthew McGrath and Ciaran McGrath produced last/gasp tackles to keep Ballymote in the game:
Yet, despite the Leinster side having the better of the second/half of the first ninety minutes, Coláiste Muire had two gilt/edged opportunities themselves to seal victory in normal and extra/time - with the woodwork saving Jobstown College on both occasions:
Firstly Niall Brennan’s bullet header came back off the crossbar four minutes into stoppage time at the end of ninety minutes before a sweetly struck Joe McGuinness effort crashed against the ‘bar six minutes into the second/period of extra time:
In between those golden chances for the Connacht champions, Niall Brennan just headed wide eight minutes into the first period of extra time and Jobstown’s James Nolan netted just before half/time of extra time - only for offside to be ruled again - and, with neither side able to break the deadlock in that second period of extra play, it went down to penalties:
Jobstown went first and converted four of their first five penalties - through Burke, Darren Doyle, Niall Forrester and Stephen McGregor - and Coláiste Mhuire replicated - through Aidan O’Brien, O’Connell, captain Brennan and Patrick O’Grady - to mean ‘sudden death’ (5/5 now):
Both Ballymote’s McGuinness and Ciaran McGrath nervelessly cancelled out strikes from Gary Byrne and Michael Doyle for the Dublin team but, after Bob Mazola had put Jobstown ahead once more, Colin McGill’s effort was saved by Ward to harshly end the Sligo side’s hopes of silverware and send the national title to Tallaght (8/7 at the end):
Jobstown Community College Tallaght: Peter Ward, Bob Mazone, Stephen McGregor, Darren Doyle, Morgan Burke, Niall Forrester, Gary Byrne, Michael Doyle, James Nolan (captain), Lee Dillon, Gary Ryan
Subs : Patrick Gorman, Gavin Fay, James Burton, Liam Murray, Lewis Loftus
Manager : Jim Halpin, Assistant Managers : Paddy Doyle & Sean Wilhare
LEINSTER & ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS
Coláiste Muire, Ballymote, Sligo: Declan McCormack, Liam O’Connell, Ciaran McGrath, Conor McGettrick, Joe McGuinness, Patrick O’Grady, Matthew McGrath, Aidan O’Brien, Gerry Brennan (captain), Niall Brennan, David Sheppard
Sub used: Colin McGill: Other subs: Jason McDonagh, David Scanlon, Sean Heffernan, Gearoid McTiernan, Niall D: Brennan, Sean Kilfeather, Joseph Henry, Robbie Flannery
Manager: Alan Mannion
CONNACHT CHAMPIONS & ALL IRELAND RUNNER UP
Referee: Paul Tone (Midlands)
Paul Healy's articles from the Sligo Weekender, dated 17 February 2009: