MUNSTER claimed the FAI Schools U18 Boys’ Interprovincial title following a scoreless draw with reigning Champions Leinster to take the honours in a pulsating conclusion to the weekend’s activities in the AUL Complex yesterday (October 7)
Following a six year absence of silverware and Leinster’s dominance at this level, the Southerners were top of the table going into the final group games on Sunday morning however they needed a point in this crucial encounter to keep Connacht at bay:
Connacht won their final game against Ulster in the earlier kick off that morning which meant they were level on points with Munster: The solitary goal courtesy of Bella SS student Liam Flatley gave Tom Byrne’s side a chance to take the title however if the westerners had of increased their goal tally they would have lifted the trophy as goal difference would have proved the decisive factor when Munster’s game ended scoreless: The tournament was eventually decided on Munster and Connacht’s head to head record with O’Brien’s side just edging it 2/1 in a very entertaining game:
Munster last won the Interprovincial series in 2006 when Limerick played host to the tournament: The sixteen man panel was under the management of Derek O’Brien for a second consecutive year: The CBS Tramore teacher also welcomed back Assistant Manager Conor Uhi (Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh) and Coach, Gary Power (FAI Development Officer, Waterford): The management trio were relishing the challenge of dethroning the Leinster lads to claim the ultimate prize:
However, the trio’s introduction to the competition last season saw them pick up just two points from three games: Major improvements were needed this season if they were to stand any chance of being in contention on the final day: O’Brien left the disappointment of 2011 behind him as he focused on a new campaign with a fresh squad of players: Captain Anthony O’Donnell remained at the helm as did Gavin O’Donnell: Preparations couldn’t have gone any better for Munster in the lead up to the tournament with months of hard work and planning holding the squad in good stead: This was despite the services of three key players namely Jack Doherty (Waterford United FC), James McGrath (Limerick FC) and Darren Murphy (injured): O’Brien knew the quality of players at his disposal and felt the team travelling to Dublin could be real title contenders this time around:
Munster were up against last year’s runners up Connacht in their opening game: Tom Byrne was welcoming back 5 players from the 2011 team namely goalkeeper Conor O’Malley, Paraic Keane, Michael Casey, Conor Byrne and Jason Lyons:
Connacht had to make a late change to their squad as they were without the services of Summerhill College student Jack Dykes as club commitments with Sligo Rovers ruled him out of contention: This gave rise to the inclusion of Clifden’s Robert Gannon:
Connacht settled into the game very well and took the lead courtesy of Yeat’s College’s Joe Gaughan in an explosive encounter: The second half saw Munster create more opportunities in front of the posts but scorned some wonderful opportunities to draw level: However O’Brien’s team kept there composure and were rewarded for their endeavours as Nagle’s Alan Browne and De La Salle’s Josh Aimiuhi gave Munster a valuable and hard fought two points:
The other fixture on Friday saw Leinster up against Ulster: Wexford native Kevin O’Connor scored twice as Aiden Sweeney’s earlier effort was cancelled out: Two points in the bag for McShane’s troops:
The penultimate games on Saturday afternoon saw Leinster and Connacht battle it out: The westerners upset the odds by gaining the upper hand on the reigning Interprovincial side: A solitary goal from Portumna’s Conor Barry gave Tom Byrne’s side their first victory of the weekend:
Ulster and Munster played out a 1/1 draw: Alan Browne gave the Southerners the advantage on 55 minutes: Ulster made three substitutions in quick succession with the introduction of Dean McConnell for Flanagan, Kyle Black for Varma and Pauric Patton for Sweeney: With only two minutes remaining, Darragh Black equalised thus ensuring the points were shared:
The league table saw Munster on 3 points while Connacht and Leinster were level on 2 points each following two days of competitive play:
Leinster needed Ulster to defeat Connacht while they themselves needed to overcome Munster in the final game to give McShane’s side any chance of reclaiming the title for a record sixth consecutive year:
If Connacht overcame Ulster in the morning fixture and Leinster defeated Munster, Connacht could have claimed the title on head to head with Leinster: It was very close indeed as proceedings got underway:
All four teams were evenly matched in these third round games and Connacht were the only team to manage a goal in this closely watched encounter: Youngster Liam Flatley was the saviour of the day that took the Connacht side to top of the league table as the game between Munster and Leinster was reaching a conclusion: A Leinster win here would see Connacht victorious while a draw was enough for O’Brien to get his hands on the trophy:
It was to be Munster’s day as the deadlock remained and the game ended 0/0:
The International management team of Ollie Horgan (St: Eunan’s College) and Dave Archbold (Palmerstown Community School) will have a difficult task to whittle down a provisional squad to attend trials at the end of the month: Horgan is also conscious of the fact that a number of key players were unavailable at the weekend due to injury, club commitments and trials abroad: A provisional panel will be invited to attend trials over the school midterm break at the end of October: A final squad of sixteen will be selected for the Centenary Shield campaign which commences on March 15 against Northern Ireland in Institute FC, Derry (KO 7pm)
PROVINCIAL PANELS:
Leinster:Stephen McGuinness (Colaiste Chraobh Abhann, Kilcoole), Jamie Goonery (Palmerstown Community School), Steven Byrne (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Kilian Cantwell (St: Kieran’s College, Kilkenny), Conor Moore (Palmerstown Community School), Kevin O’Connor (St: Peter’s College, Wexford), Peter Hopkins (Larkin Community College), Cormac Breslin (Arklow CBS), Alan Gannon (St: Joseph’s, Fairview), Clayton Stafford (Collinstown Park Community College), Dylan Kavanagh (Salesian College, Celbridge) Dylan Cashin (Malahide Community School), Colm Poole (Clonaslee College, Laois), Nika Arevadze (St: Kilian’s DSD), Gregory Sloggett (St: Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda), Andrew Murphy (Colaiste Chill Mhantain)
Management: John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), Paddy O’Reilly (Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun), Conor Foley (Athlone Community College), Ferdia McKeown (Physio)
Munster: Nathan Murphy (St: Flannan’s College, Ennis), Adam Thompson (Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh), Anthony O’Donnell (Carrigaline Community School), Gavin O’Donovan (De La Salle College), Patrick Fitzgerald (De La Salle College), Alan Browne (Nagle Community College), Conor O’Driscoll (Schull Community College), Darragh Rainsford (Colaiste Chiarain), Josh Aimiuhi (De La Salle College), Kynan Rocks (CBC), Joe Kennedy (Crescent College Comprehensive), Jamie Walsh (Youthreach Waterford), Dessie Hutchinson (De La Salle College), Anthony McAlevey (St: Aidan’s Community College), Darragh Corcoran (Carrigaline Community School), Michael Sadys (Glanmire Community College)
Management: Derek O’Brien (CBS Tramore), Conor Uhi (Coláiste Mhuire, Cobh), Gary Power (FAI DO, Waterford)
Ulster: Seamus Houghton (Carndonagh Community School), Pauric Patton (Cholaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon), Kevin Loughran (St: Macartan’s College, Monaghan), Peter Doherty (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Ferghal McMahon (St: Macartan’s College, Monaghan), Aiden Sweeney (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Dean McConnell (Deele College, Raphoe), Darach O’Connor (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Kyle Black (Loreto Community School, Milford), Darragh Black (Loreto Community School, Milford), Cathal McDaid (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Johnny Coleman (Patrician High School, Carrickmacross), Georgie Kelly (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Christopher Flanaghan (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Ryan Varma (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Shaun Patton (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny)
Management: Paddy Carr (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Sean McFadden (Crana College), William O’Connor (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), John Kerr (Patrician High School, Carrickmacross):
Connacht: Conor O’Malley (Rice College, Westport), Andrew Peters (St: Colman’s College, Claremorris), Michael Casey (Summerhill College, Sligo), Paraic Keane (Rice College), Alex Burns (Yeats College, Galway), Conor Byrne (St: Louis, Kiltimagh), Conor Barry (Portumna Community School), Colm Nevin (St: Gerald’s College, Castlebar), Jason Lyons (Colaiste Iognaid, Galway), Joe Gaughan (Yeats College), Morgan Lyons (Ballyhaunis Community School), Richard Fahy (Presentation College, Headford), Robert Gannon (Clifden Community School), Stephen Walsh (St: Gerald’s College), Liam Flatley (Bella Secondary School, Mayo), Adam Murphy (St: Colman’s College)
Management: Tom Byrne (St: Gerald’s College), Ger Bane (Galway Community College, Moneenageisha)
INTERPROVINCIAL RESULTS:
Friday, October 5
Leinster 2/1 Ulster
Munster 2/1 Connacht
Saturday, October 6
Leinster 0/1 Connacht
Munster 1/1 Ulster
Sunday, October 7
Connacht 1/0 Ulster
Leinster 0/0 Munster
POINTS
Munster 4 (Winners on head to head)
Connacht 4
Leinster 3
Ulster 1
END