St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny 2/1 Rochestown College, Cork
Kevin O’Donnell (27), Kieran Mc Pherson (30) Adrain Daly (55)
Athlone Town FC was the setting for the UMBRO FAI Schools First Year Boys All Ireland Final yesterday (Thursday, 27 May) as North faced South in the ultimate decider: Both Schools had impressive records in the Cup competition which ensured an entertaining conclusion to the First Year Boys title race:
Rochestown entered the game having defeated last year’s All Ireland Champions High School, Clonmel in the Munster Quarter Final after extra time: The Cork outfit had further wins against Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh and St: Brendan’s College, Killarney on route to the All Ireland Semi Final: Their opposition on the day was St: Joseph’s College, Galway which are every experienced campaigner’s in School’s soccer: Their impressive run of form was tested as the Bish took the game to extra time: Daniel Kingston was the hero of the day with a superb goal four minutes in to secure Rochestown a place in the All Ireland Final:
St: Eunan’s College were playing in their fifth Schools final in three years having experienced defeats in all four competitive ties: The School’s last disappointment came only last month when Limerick CBS defeated them to claim the Minor title:
St: Eunan’s successfully defeated Dunshaughlin Community College in the All Ireland Semi Final with a hat trick from youngster Christopher Flanagan:
Rochestown’s were impressive early on but it wasn’t until the twenty minute when midfielder Cian Devine tested David Tyrell in the Donegal goal: Tyrell was alert to the danger and palmed the opportunity to safety:
St: Eunan’s responded courtesy of Michael Millar: His effort was lacking pace and Andrew Cullinane was on hand to save comfortably:
The Letterkenny lads registered their first of the afternoon on 27 minutes as Kevin O’Donnell deceived Cullinane with his fancy footwork to pull the ball past the diving keeper to roll the ball into the back of an empty net:
Letterkenny’s momentum was building as Rochestown conceded three minutes later just on the stroke of half time: Kieran Mc Pherson’s initial shot was cleared off the line but seconds later he was gifted another chance which he duly accepted: Chris Flanagan played an excellent through ball to Mc Pherson which he slotted past Cullinane for St: Eunan’s second:
Tom Hyland was introduced for the injured Eoghan Daly nine minutes after the interval as Rochestown looked to make an impact on proceedings: George Gill and David King were playing well but the final ball to Kingston and Flahive was lacking accuracy:
Chris Flanagan executed an inch perfect set piece on forty minutes as the ball drifted inches wide of the left post:
The Cork side pressed forward at every opportunity and their determination was rewarded when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box: Adrian Daly’s swirling shot flew past Tyrell to rupture the roof of the net:
Eunan’s had a nervous final five minutes as Rochestown were gaining more possession in Donegal half: The Donegal side did enough to avert the attack as Oisin Shiels, Ryan Rainey and Darragh McWalters were solid in the last line of defence:
Flanagan had the last of the action as his set piece from twenty five yards out narrowly missed the top corner much to the relief of the Rochestown supporters: With four minutes of injury time played, Rochestown couldn’t find the equaliser:
The last win for the School came in 2005 when they lifted the Senior Cup: The heartache of losing four All Ireland Finals was a distance memory for St: Eunan’s as Captain Chris Flanagan accepted the Cup from FAI‘s Niall Harrison:
St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny: David Tyrrell, Oisin Shiels, Noah Mailey, Darragh Mac Walters, Conall O’Boyle, Ryan Rainey, Oisin Hassette, Chris Flanagan (Capt), Kieran Mac Pherson, Michael Miller, Kevin O’Donnell
Subs: Cormac Callaghan for Kevin O’Donnell (45), Michael Friel, Conor Morrison for Michael Millar (60), Conor Blainey, Kevin Kneely
Teachers: Ollie Horgan & Michael Kelly
Rochestown College, Cork: Andrew Cullinane, Niall Fitzgerald, Adrian Daly, Gavin Fitzgerald, Luke Carroll, George Gill (Capt), David King, Cian Devine, Daniel Kingston, Eoghan Daly, Kevin Flahive,
Subs: Cian Power, Christopher Brennan, Eoin O’Sullivan, Tom Hyland for Eoghan Daly (39), Aidan Devine
Teachers: Patrick Croke & Derick Murray
Referee: Paul Tone (Midlands)