Coláiste Phadraig, CBS Lucan 4/1 St: Columba’s College, Stranorlar
Dylan Hayes (8), Tom Prior (28), Titty Babington (51) Ryan Gallon (o:g: 54) Dewi Bolger Moore (6)
LUCAN’S COLÁISTE PHADRAIG netted a brace of goals to continue their success in the Cup campaign following an impressive win over Stranorlar superstars St: Columba’s in a sun soaked Gortakeegan this afternoon (May 15)
The Leinster lads went a goal down in the first six minutes of play to slot two past Jamie Bell in each half to secure an All Ireland appearance this season in the Umbro FAI Schools First Year Boys Cup Final:
Mentors Ray Cullen and Richard Sweetman continue their winning streak having tasted success last week as the School collected the Metropolitan Division One League title, defeating Chanel College 2/0 last Friday:
The CBS students also defeated the Coolock outfit in the Leinster Cup Final to book their place against the Stranorlar side:
James Rodgers’ crew got off to a blistering start when they took the lead on six minutes: Captain Gareth Doherty was making his presence known in the middle of the park and was awarded a free kick from 25 yards out: Doherty played an inch perfect pass to the edge of the box where Dewi Bolger Moore connected following an outstretched left boot to slot past the defenceless Paddy Pender between the posts:
The Ulster side were looking fresh as Finn and Bonner combined well to set up Thompson whose effort was slightly wayward on route to Pender’s goal:
The Donegal lead was short lived following a wonderful passage of play from Jaworski and Kelly: The Lucan lads were awarded a free kick following a foul on Babington: Dylan Hayes left Jamie Bell stranded following a set piece from distance that deceived the Stranorlar keeper and levelled proceedings once more on eight minutes:
St: Columba’s were enjoying plenty of possession in the final quarter but just couldn’t get the final ball to the feet of either Thompson or Patton to do any real damage
Tom Prior got Lucan’s second two minutes from the interval having secured a cross field pass from Dylan Hayes on the left flank: Prior’s screamer was delivered low and hard and crept under the diving Bell to make it 2/1 to the Dublin School:
The last of the action saw the Donegal side nearly equalising as Padhraic Patton connected at the far post from a Doherty free kick: The ball just inching wide of the target
Tim Callaghan was introduced for Stranorlar’s Shane Thompson at half time:
The Ulster Champions continued to press forward at every opportunity while Lucan availed of the counter attack on occasion with some nice passing movements out of defence to keep the pressure on Bell in goal: Attempts from Lawel and Douglas proved fruitless for the Lucan students:
CBS were enjoying plenty of possession as the second half opened up for them:
Rodgers changed tact once again on 40 minutes with Ryan Finn making way for Ryan Gallen
However it was an up hill battle for the Stranorlar students as ten minutes from time, Lucan’s Titty Babington made it 3/1 when he rounded keeper Jamie Bell and netted from close range:
Lucan’s fourth came from an o:g: six minutes from time following an excellent set piece from Conor Kane, the ball delivered at pace into a crowded penalty area, ensuring a deflected shot past Bell on the line, thus taking the game out of reach for Stranorlar
Cullen played down the clock with some last minute substitutions as David Brown came on for goal scorer Titty Babingtom
Kevin Bonner and Shaun Rodgers were inspiring but unfortunately it was a bridge too far for the Ulster outfit:
Lucan then made a double substitution with a minute remaining as Sean Foley and Reece Dempsey got in on the action for Simon Jaworski and Louis Douglas:
Colaiste Phadraig now meet the winners of the other semi final as Crescent College Comprehensive in Limerick take on Westport’s Rice College in Salthill Devon FC on Thursday at 1pm with the All Ireland Final scheduled for Wednesday, May 30
COLAISTE PHADRAIG, LUCAN CBS:Paddy Pender, Paul Cleary, Conor Kane, Conor Maguire, Ciaran Kelly, Tom Prior, Simon Jaworski, Dylan Hayes, Titty Babingtom, Emmanuel Lawel, Louis Douglas
Subs used: David Brown for T Babington (55), Sean Foley for S Jaworski (59), Reece Dempsey for L Douglas (59),
Other subs: Daragh O’Haire, Aaron O’Halleron
Teachers: Ray Cullen, Richard Sweetman
ST: COLUMBA’S COLLEGE, STRANORLAR: Jamie Bell, Adam Lynch, Jerome Duffy, Conor Dalton, Shaun Rodgers, Gareth Doherty, Ryan Finn, Kevin Bonner, Dewi Bolger Moore, Shane Thompson, Padhraic Patton
Subs used: Tim Callaghan for S Thompson (h/t), Ryan Gallen for R Finn (40),
Other subs: David Callen, Aaron Anderson, Jack McGeehan
Teacher: James Rodgers
REFEREE: Frank McGonnell (Cavan/Monaghan)