De La Salle College, Waterford 2/0 Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana
Maurice Shanahan (22, 62)
A man of the match performance from De La Salle Captain Maurice Shanahan ensured that it was another glorious day for the Waterford College at the Glebe North venue in Balbriggan on Wednesday afternoon last as he struck twice to land a famed UMBRO FAI Schools Junior Boys All Ireland Cup title over a spirited Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana:
The Ulster kingpins came into the game in good form having cruised past All Ireland Semi Finalist’s Headford’s Presentation College and more importantly outwitting current holders St: Eunan’s in their Provincial decider to advance to this stage:
In a tentative start to the game that saw De La Salle striker Luke Power guilty of getting the ball stuck under his feet after a pass from Andrew Phelan on two minutes, it was midfielder Jack Maher that had a chance from a free kick ten minutes later after a foul on Daniel Pender but he dragged his 25/yard effort wide:
De La Salle looked the better side during the early stages of the game and struck for the lead goal on 22 minutes when Daniel Pender sent a ball towards goal from inside the area that saw James Brown head goal wards but after Ryan Doherty cleared off the line, Maurice Shanahan was on hand to hammer the loose ball to the net from close range:
The Waterford outfit continued to press forward after taking the lead and it was Jack Maher that called Scoil Mhuire goalkeeper Caolan McGonagle in action five minutes later when he got on the end of a pass from Dessie Hutchinson but his low left/footed shot from the left/side of the penalty area was well held by the netminder:
James Brown had a chance to double his sides lead on 30 minutes when a Daniel Pender cracking effort was deflected out for a corner kick that saw Hutchinson put the ball on the head of the centre forward with a delivery from the left but the Johnville player headed over the crossbar from close range:
After offering very little during the course of the first half, Scoil Mhuire did have a late chance in the first minute of the opening 40 when Ryan Doherty played Michael Coyle into the clear but the centre forward failed to make De La Salle keeper Stephen Doheny work as he dragged a right/footed shot wide of the left hand post:
Dessie Hutchinson went agonisingly close to a second goal four minutes into the second half when Daniel Pender sent Jack Maher clear down the left but he was fouled by Michael Noone, however the midfielder saw his brilliant effort flashed just inches over the crossbar:
Scoil Mhuire had a counter attack minutes later that nearly yielded an equalising goal when Jack Maher pleaded for a free kick on the edge of the area but when Ryan Doherty went clear at the other end, the midfielder saw his left/footed go inches wide of the despairing dive of De La Salle keeper Stephen Doheny:
Luke Power should have doubled his sides lead on 55 minutes when he raced clear on goal after a through ball from Dessie Hutchinson but despite rounding goalkeeper Caolan McGonagle, he couldn't find the net as Scoil Mhuire's full back Kealan Dillon got back brilliantly to get in a vital tackle:
Things did get better for De La Salle when they grabbed a second goal through their captain Shanahan when Daniel Pender sent in a long thrown from the right that saw sub Aaron O’Connor knock the ball down for the unmarked Shanahan at the back post, who drilled a low right/footed shot that beat keeper Caolan McGonagle:
It was the brilliance of De La Salle defender Shane Mackey that kept two goals between the sides with nine minutes to go when Ryan Doherty sent over a right/wing corner kick that wasn't cleared and the second Ryan Doherty that saw his shot superbly hacked off the line:
Although the Donegal outfit did try press for a late conciliation, the De La Salle defence stood firm and there was great scenes when the victorious captain and match winning hero Maurice Shanahan accepted the cup from FAI Schools Treasurer Mr: Alex Harkin on what was another glorious day for the Waterford outfit:
DE LA SALLE COLLEGE, WATERFORD: Stephen Doheny, Ross Fitzpatrick, Ross Battye, Shane Mackey (Eddie Meaney, 80), Maurice Shanahan, Dessie Hutchinson, Andrew Phelan, Daniel Pender, Luke Power (Aaron O’Connor, 57), James Brown, Jack Maher
Subs not used: James Grogan (GK), Jeremy Goldsmith, Luke O’Connor
Teachers: Andrias O’Brien, Robbie Power, Pete Munroe
SCOIL MHUIRE SECONDARY SCHOOL, BUNCRANA: Caolan McGonagle, Michael Noone, Keelan Dillon, Paul McDermott, Ryan Doherty, Mark Coyle, Aiden Donaghey, Ryan Varma, Georgie Kelly, Michael Coyle (Jack McDaid, 68), Joseph McGrory (Liam Doherty, 60)
Subs not used: John Campbell, Ryan McLaughlin, Sean Parker, Joe McDaid, Sean McHugh, Kyle Long, Shane McClean, Adam Callaghen
Teachers: William O’Connor, Paddy Carr
REFEREE: Keith Thornton (Dublin):