Rice College, Westport 3/1 Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick
Cian Dunne (17) Peter Corcoran (30+1) Stephen O’Malley (40) Brian Ryan (55)
RICE COLLEGE, WESTPORT have become hot favourites to left the Umbro FAI Schools First Year title this season having defeated a much fancied Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick in their semi final fixture in Salthill Devon FC today (May 17)
The Mayo School had already defeated last year’s All Ireland Champions, St: Joseph’s College, Galway (bish) in their provincial decider a fortnight ago to advance to the All Ireland series:
The Connacht Final was a classy affair with Rice College, the underdogs, coming from a goal behind to edge out the previous holders, St: Joseph’s as a brace of goals from Oisin McLoughlin and Stephen O’Malley was enough to see of the Galway challenge in Terryland Park:
Another major scalp for Clarke’s crew was the unwinding of Munster men Crescent as they failed to make an impact in a much anticipated encounter:
The Limerick outfit were cruising in their provincial encounters with a 2/1 victory over Abbey CBS, Tipperary Town in their semi final decider: Tralee’s Mercy Mounthawk was their opposition in the Munster Final and they made light work of them defeating the Kingdom 3/1 to lift the Munster crown:
Conditions were perfect as Westport kicked off proceedings in the Drom venue:
It didn’t take long for things to heat up in the West as Limerick netted in the sixth minute: The goal disallowed following what was deemed an offside much to the frustration of the Limerick following: The lively Ruairi Casserly headed the ball past Rice ‘keeper Patrick O’Malley following a sweet delivery down the right flank from Patrick McDonagh: The intention was good but the timing needed to be improved:
It was definitely the Crescent that made the brighter start to the game as John Blake nodded a ball on target from a set piece courtesy of McDonagh: Netminder O’Malley was responsively to the threat and palmed the ball above his crossbar:
The Limerick School had the ball in the back of the Westport net for a second time as Casserly was deemed to be in an offside position once more:
It took the Mayo lads some time to find their bearings as they were bombarded by the Limerick assault:
Cian Dunne was impressive on the ball and he enjoyed some valuable exchanges of inter/play with front man Stephen O’Malley:
Things were building up nicely for the Connacht Champions as they found their rhythm:
Rice College gained the advantage first as they scored midway through the half, some may say against the run of play: Danger man Cian Dunne slotted the ball cooly past Sean McNamara on the edge of the box following some excellent exchanges with Doyle and McLoughlin:
The interval was fast approaching as the Westport School doubled their lead in additional time in the first half: Jack Murphy turned supplier for substitute Peter Corcoran to convert following an initial save by McNamara on the goal line: The ball felling advantageously to the youngster who made no mistake from close range
Mark Edwards made way as Liam Harrington was introduced for the Limerick students at half time to provide some attacking prowess upfront:
The break in proceedings was a godsend for the Munster men as they found time to regroup and focus on the challenge ahead of them: It didn’t take long for them to mount a response as substitute Harrington sparked a snapshot on goal on the edge of the box: O’Malley did exceptional well to save:
McDonagh was sure to have scored for the Crescent only for this effort to come off the post on 35 minutes: A wonderful strike that was deserved of a goal but not to be
The fight back from Rice came twenty minutes from time as Stephen O’Malley got Westport’s third of the game, killing any chance of a Limerick resurgence: The cunning youngster got between two defenders following an excellent attack manoeuvre from Murphy and Corcoran: O’Malley side stepped the diving McNamara to slot the ball into an open goal:
Limerick’s Daire Clery was called into the action in place of the industrious James Deery in defence: A last ditch effort to revive their chances:
The defensive partnership of Paul Lambert, Brian O’Malley, Colm Moran and Mikey O’Brien was steadfast as McDonagh and Casserly failed to operate in the final third of the field:
Patrick O’Malley was called into the action ten minutes from time as he executed an extraordinary save to deny Daire Clery a score following good linkage with Casserly through the centre:
Peter Corcoran was gifted a great opportunity to register Westport’s fourth six minutes from time following a poor defensive clearance from the hard working Blake: The Mayo pupil got his left peg to it but McNamara was on form to stop the goal bound effort bravely:
Crescent College got a consolation goal with five minutes remaining from the head of Captain Brian Ryan
Rice College were winding down the clock as Eoin Conway was brought on for the work hourse Jack Murphy with only minutes remaining:
The Limerick lads experienced mixed fortunes in Drom with two goals disallowed due to offside:
However, great credit goes to Rice College on a wonderful all round team performance that deservedly sees the School through to the All Ireland Final:
Rice College is a predominately GAA school and have not featured on the soccer radar for some time, could this be their season to make a major impact on the football scene: All will be revealed come match day as only Coláiste Phádraig, CBS Lucan stand in their way of an All Ireland Schools title: The calibre of the Lucan lads is exceptional and it should make for a mouth watering tie as the ultimate decider will take place on Wednesday, May 30 in Athlone Town FC: The game is scheduled to kick off at 3pm:
The curtain raiser will see Presentation Secondary School, Thurles face Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy in the Umbro FAI Schools First Year Girls Final which will commence at 12:30pm
RICE COLLEGE, WESTPORT: Patrick O’Malley, Paul Lambert, Mikey O’Brien, Colm Moran, Brian O’Malley, Paul Doyle, Jack Murphy, Killian Kilkelly (Capt), Stephen O’Malley, Cian Dunne, Oisin McLoughlin
Subs used: Peter Corcoran, Eoin Conway for J Murphy (59),
Other subs: Alan Kennedy, Christopher Heanue, Mark Reilly
Teachers: Brendan Clarke, Pat Dunne
CRESCENT COLLEGE COMPREHENSIVE, LIMERICK: Sean McNamara, James Deery, Cian Cusack, Adam Shier, John Blake, Mark Shanahan, Brian Barry, Brian Ryan (Capt), Patrick McDonagh, Ruairi Casserly, Mark Edwards
Subs used: Liam Harrington for M Edwards (h/t), Daire Clery for J Deery (48)
Other subs: Mark McDermott, Ameen Obasa, Stephen O’Brien
Teacher: Diarmuid Mullins
REFEREE: Marc Lynch (Galway)