St: Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin 3/2 Nagle Community College, Mahon, Cork (AET)
Marco Chindea (74, 105) Daniel Matthews (38) Paul Lawlor (19), Alan Browne (57)
IT was success for Dublin’s St: Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin as they defeated Nagle Community College of Cork in a thrilling Umbro FAI Schools John Murphy All Ireland Cup Final by three goals to two after extra time at the Waterford RSC yesterday (February 29) reports Adrian Flanagan:
Nagle were hoping to land the double in the sunny south east as they were victories in the same competition twelve months previously defeating Killybeg’s School St: Catherine’s to lift the title following a nine year absence:
It was the Saint’s first Cup title following an impressive season last year which saw them capture the U19 Division 3 and U16 Division 3 Metropolitan League titles under the guidance of Sheridan and Smith: They continued winning ways in Waterford with a nail/biting encounter that the travelling supporters had to endure:
A major boost for Geasley’s troops was the return of Irish International star Alan Browne following his one match suspension in their Provincial decider against Killenaule’s Scoil Ruain: Browne played a pivotal role in the Nagle’s exploits up front for a considerable period of sustained pressure:
Clondalkin native Daniel Matthews definitely played a captain’s role in the day’s events as well as Keeper Stephen Kavanagh which saw them manage their defensive duties bravely: A number of strong tackles were endured by the youngsters which saw Smith cover plenty of ground in treating the play makers:
In a game that seemed to be going the way of the Leeside outfit for so long, they’ll be left kicking themselves as their dominance failed to yield success with St: Kevin’s winger Marco Chindea the hero at the sound of the final whistle:
Alan Browne should have gave his side the lead on three minutes when he rose inside the penalty area to meet a left/wing Vincent Noonan cross but his headed flashed inches over the crossbar before Glenn Edmunds had a close range brilliantly kept out by St: Kevin’s keeper Stephen Kavanagh on nine minutes:
The Cork College took a deserved lead on 19 minutes when striker Alan Browne was fouled 25 yards from goal and Paul Lawlor’s exquisite left/footed strike nestled in the corner of the net giving keeper Kavanagh little chance:
Kavanagh made another fine save on the half hour mark to deny Roy Kenny as his stunning right/footed strike from 25 yards somehow tipped around the posts before St: Kevin’s levelled the tie with their first meaningful attack on 38 minutes:
John Harcourt received the ball out on the left channel and after playing in captain Daniel Matthews, he beat Nagle netminder Mark McGrath with an angled finish:
After Roy Kenny was just inches wide with a thunderous free kick just four minutes into the second half, the Cork College did regain a deserved lead on 57 minutes when Alan Browne stepped over another free kick and his well struck right/footed shot flew past keeper Stephen Kavanagh
Keeper Kavanagh made a super save to deny Glenn Edmunds what would have been a cracking goal on 66 minutes as the winger showed great skill to ghost into the penalty area but his right/footed shot was tipped around the posts:
St: Kevin’s got themselves level on 74 minutes when Dylan Byrne sent in a superb left/wing corner kick that found the head of the unchallenged Marco Chindea at the back post and he powered an unstoppable header past a stranded Mark McGrath:
Daniel McCarthy thought that he had won the game for Nagle with five minutes remaining but his free header flashed inches over the crossbar before Marco Chindea should have won it for St: Kevin’s in the final minute of normal time but he blazed wide from 14 yards with keeper McGrath beaten:
After a scoreless opening period of extra time, it was St: Kevin’s that scored what proved to be an unlikely match winner after 104 minutes when Dylan McKeever played the ball in for Marco Chindea and with Nagle keeper Mark McGrath off his line, the winger lobbed the ball to the net:
ST: KEVIN’S CC, CLONDALKIN: Stephen Kavanagh, Ian Greene, Amine Djimani, Dylan Smith, Daniel Matthews, Lee Higgins (Luke Byrne `83), Marco Chindea, Christopher Ward (Paul McMahon `109), John Harcourt, Dylan McKeever, Dylan Byrne
Subs not used: Jason Byrne, Bradley Foley, Aaron Bailie
Teachers: Fintan Sheridan, Ciaran Smith
NAGLE CC, MAHON, CORK: Mark McGrath, Ray Delaney, Shaun Crowley, Daniel McCarthy, Vincent Noonan, Simon Irwin, Glenn Edmunds, Roy Kenny (Capt), Kevin O’Keeffe, Alan Browne, Paul Lawlor (Sean Holland `58)
Subs not used: Dyllin Burke, Liam Coleman, Dale O’Neill, Cian O’Connor
Teacher: Mr: Sean Geasley
REFEREE: Tony Walsh (Waterford):