De La Salle College, Waterford 1/1 St: Joseph’s College, Galway F/T
(3/1 AET)
Dean Walsh (2), Eoin Daly Shane Hulgraine
De La Salle College, Waterford booked their place in the Minor Boys All Ireland Cup Final after coming from behind to defeat Connacht Champions St: Joseph’s College of Galway in Leah Victoria Park today (April 19):
St: Joseph’s commonly known as the bish are renowned in schools soccer having captured many provincial and national honours over the years: Teachers McDermott and Grealish had their team were prepared for this encounter as virtually the same panel featured today had won All Ireland First Year success last season: Bobby Keane and Joe Hynes were the hero’s last year when they nicked a brace of goals in the first half to outsmart De La Salle College, Dundalk in the Final to pick up the coveted Cup:
Waterford’s De La Salle are no strangers to schools soccer either, their last All Ireland title was in 2011 when the school made history by being crowned Senior Champions at the hands of St: Patrick’s College, Cavan when the decider went to spot kicks:
At other groups, the school are equally impressive with the latest All Ireland title in the Minor grade achieved in 2009: Their First Year All Ireland Cup tally saw them win three consecutive titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007 among many more:
The bish were given the best start to their title ambitions when Shane Hulgraine coolly slotted past the on rushing De La Salle keeper Steven Doheny to go one up before the interval:
The second half began with De La Salle on the hunt for a leveller and found it in the form of Dean Walsh moments in:
Both teams had strong chances to grab a winner as the best opportunity fell to substitute Eoin Daly of De La Salle: His rocket of a shot went agonising over the bar:
Both James Grealis and Steven Doheny were excellent shot stoppers between the posts and thus ensured a deadlock as full time approached:
St: Joseph’s seized the advantage in additional time when Gary Kineen’s excellent shot was finger tipped onto the bar and cleared by the defence:
A lucky escape for the Waterford outfit
It was this counter attack, from De La Salle, that saw Dean Walsh put his side in front: Walsh’s second of the afternoon
A marvellously executed goal that gave the Southerners some breathing space and more importantly put some added pressure on the bish boys:
De La Salle added more misery to St: Joseph’s with a third goal deep in extra time:
Eoin Daly was given a perfect through ball and rounded the keeper to seal the deal for Mentor’s Moore and Nevin:
St: Joseph’s gallantly played on for a goal spree but Waterford’s defence played a wonderful game to deny the Galway boys a chance at a second consecutive All Ireland title
De La Salle will now look forward to an All Ireland appearance where they will meet Ulster star’s St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny on Wednesday, May 2 (KO 1pm)
DE LA SALLE COLLEGE, WATERFORD: Steven Doheny, Chris Thomas, Dylon McGuire, Roy Butler, Aidan Molden, Luke Doherty, Hayden Galibert, Rob Ryan, Kyle Collins, Aaron O’Connor, Dean Walsh:
Subs:Craig Dunphy, Eoin Daly, Conor Dalton, Jack Power, Luke Nolan:
Teachers:Mark Moore & Paudie Nevin
ST: JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, GALWAY (THE BISH): James Grealis, Tommy McClean, Ben Brennan, Bobby Keane, Brian Lally, Michael Costello, Joe Hayes, John Kennedy, Shane Hulgraine, Conor Melody, Evan Deacy:
Subs:Josh Marvesley, Gary Kineen, Shane Gillespie, Diarmuid McGee, Ronan Murphy:
Teachers:Barry McDermott & Robert Grealish
REFEREE:John McCrossan (Midlands)
Report courtesy of Dean Brownless