Coláiste Phadraig, CBS Lucan 2/1 Rice College, Westport (AET)
Ciaran Kelly (39), Conor Maguire (73) Peter Corcoran (48)
COLÁISTE PHÁDRAIG were crowned Umbro FAI Schools First Year Boys All Ireland Cup Champions following an incredible outing in Athlone Town FC this afternoon (May 30)
The sides were all square following sixty minutes of fantastic football with two second half goals providing the entertainment in the Lissywollen venue: The first coming from CBS pupil Ciaran Kelly on 39 minutes was cancelled out by Rice College substitute Peter Corcoran’s screamer 12 minutes from time to take this crunch encounter into extra time:
A nail/biting twenty minutes was to follow as Conor Maguire scored the winner three minutes into the second half of additional time to give the Lucan CBS School the title:
Westport student Cian Dunne was causing a major concern for the Lucan setup all afternoon as he pressed the defensive pairing of Paul Cleary and Conor Kane at every opportunity:
Lucan’s Aaron O’Halloran was replacing Paddy Pender between the posts for this decider: This may have surprised some of the Lucan following as Pender impressed in Gortakeegan following their 4/1 demolition of Ulster Champion’s St: Columba’s College, Stranorlar in their semi final fixture:
However O’Halloran was equal to the challenge and had the busier afternoon of the two ‘keepers as the Rice College contingency darted off several shots on target courtesy of Stephen O’Malley, Oisin McLoughlin and Jack Murphy in the first quarter:
Westport Captain Killian Kilkelly and Stephen O’Malley were linking well for the Westerners as the Rice College students knocked the ball around with confidence and conviction: Paul Doyle went close from Westport with five minutes remaining as O’Halloran pulled off another fine save to keep his team in contention:
Titty Babington was looking lively up front for Lucan but the final ball was lacking persuasion on a number of occasions: Lawal and Jaworski were enjoying a purple patch for Lucan on the close of the first half but couldn’t convert the chances on offer:
Westport were playing some exceptional football early in the second period but afforded Lucan CBS the opportunity to come back into the game with Douglas and Hayes combining for the latter to drag his effort wide of the mark:
The continued pressure on the Westport back four held strong as Lambert and O’Brien played a starring role in dealing with any dangerous threats on goal under strict instruction from Patrick O’Malley
The deadlock was broken nine minutes into the second half when a goal against the run of play courtesy of Ciaran Kelly brought the game alive for Lucan:
Their lead was short lived as nine minutes later, when substitute Peter Corcoran rose highest inside the box to beat keeper Aaron O’Halloran to net the equaliser:
Stephen O’Malley had an excellent opportunity to draw the winner in normal time but his touch was too heavy and he drilled the ball wayward
Extra time was the order of the day as a penalty shoot out was beckoning for the teams: The first half following the norm as the deadlocked remained:
Lucan were awarded a corner after continued pressure on the counter attack: Conor Keane turned supplier as Conor Maguire netted inside the box much to the frustration of O’Halloran who was hampered from dealing with the cross by a crowded penalty area:
Lucan could have further added to their tally as substitute Reece Dempsey should have done better following excellent work down the left flank: He had Emmanuel Lawal in support but chose to strike from an acute angle and missed the mark as the advancing Patrick O’Malley covered well:
Cian Dunne and Eoin Conway went agonising close to providing a much needed and deserved equaliser for Westport but trio Maguire, Keane and Prior provided a much needed defensive wall to ensure the Lucan lads the victory they worked so hard for:
COLAISTE PHADRAIG, LUCAN CBS: Aaron O’Halloran, Paul Cleary, Conor Kane, Conor Maguire (Capt), Ciaran Kelly, Tom Prior, Louis Douglas, Dylan Hayes, Titty Babingtom, Emmanuel Lawel, Simon Jaworski
Subs used: David Brown for T Babington, Sean Foley for S Jaworski, Reece Dempsey for L Douglas
Other subs: Cian Lynch, Paddy Pender (GK), Colum Rodgers
Teachers: Ray Cullen, Richard Sweetman
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 for K Kilkelly, Eoin Conway for S O’Malley
Other subs: Alan Kennedy, Christopher Heanue, Mark Reilly, Sean Tierney
Teachers: Brendan Clarke, Pat Dunne
REFEREE: Ian Stacey (Athlone)
