De La Salle, Waterford 2/2 St: Benildus College, Stillorgan (AET) DLS win 6/5 on pens
Conor Coad (70, 113) Conor Butler (42), Paul Connolly (92)
An epic UMBRO FAI Schools Dr: Tony O’Neill Cup Semi Final played at Arklow Town FC on Thursday (March 10) eventually went in favour of De La Salle, Waterford after a thrilling sudden death penalty shoot/out victory over St: Benildus College, Stillorgan reports J Fallon:
De La Salle goalkeeper Sean Whitty proved to be his side's hero by converting the winning spot/kick to book their place in the Final against St: Patrick's College, Cavan on March 22:
The Deise were forced to do it the hard way by twice coming from behind against ten/man St: Benildus with Conor Coad supplying both equalisers:
Despite losing Karl McGrath on five minute to a red card for a professional foul on Kevin Flynn, the Saints found their stride and took the initiative with the opener three minutes before half/time:
Conor Butler cut in from the left wing past two defenders before smashing a shot from distance which flew high into the net:
Stillorgan’s dominance in the game was weakened following the retirement of sharp shooter Paul Mannion with quarter of an hour played following a suspected broken wrist: The versatile Conor Day was an avid replacement for Mannion as he impressed early on:
However, De La Salle made the extra man count in the second half by getting numbers forward in attack and the onslaught inevitably yielded an equaliser on 70 minutes:
Chris Kervick raided into the penalty area and picked out Conor Coad with a cross that the attacker volleyed to the net from ten yards:
St: Benildus regained the lead two minutes into extra/time when Paul Connolly raced clear unchallenged to slot home from twenty yards only for Coad to grab his second three minutes after the turnaround following a pin/point centre by Kevin Flynn:
It all came down to penalties and after each side converted their opening four spot/kicks, a miss on either side sent the outcome to sudden death:
Whitty showed his mettle by saving a penalty before promptly dispatching the next to secure De La Salle a place in the final:
ST: BENILDUS COLLEGE, STILLORGAN: Keith Finn; Michael Rogers, Stephen McAuliffe, Tadgh Healy, Karl McGrath, Ben Meegan, Alex Oates, Conor Butler, Paul Connolly, Daniel Byrne, Paul Mannion:
Subs used: Conor Day (Mannion, 19), David Byrne (Oates, 52), Brian Reilly (Rogers, 101)
Subs not used: Ceelan Simon, Mark Brennan:
Teacher: Oisin MacEoin
DE LA SALLE, WATERFORD: Sean Whitty; Mark McManus, Gavin O'Donovan, Adam Potter, Patrick Fitzgerald, Conor Whittle, Colm Morris, Adam Galibert, Chris Kervick, Kevin Flynn, Conor Coad:
Subs used: Eoin Kindlon (Morris 93)
Subs not used: Adam Deegan, David O'Leary, Conor Kirby, Luke Browne:
Teacher: Andrias O’Brien
REFEREE: Lee Bevans (Wicklow)