De La Salle College, Waterford 0/2 Summerhill College, Sligo Malachy Spratt (46), Darragh O’Brien (68)
SUMMERHILL COLLEGE, SLIGO are now one step closer to retaining the UMBRO FAI Schools Dr: Tony O’Neill Cup title after beating De La Salle College of Waterford by two goals to nil in Athlone IT this afternoon (April 3) reports Paul Kirwan
Summerhill had five of last year’s starting eleven make a welcome return with goalkeeper Ryan Blake, Brian Glennon, Darren Kilcawley, Ryan McManus and Gary Armstrong all featuring as well as substitutes Stephen Kerins, Darragh O’Brien and Mark McCallion making the transition to the Senior panel and all getting a place on the starting line up for this crunch clash with the mighty Munster stars:
DLS College defeated last year’s fancied finalists from last season CBS Limerick in their Provincial encounter and were looking to upset the odds in the midlands venue: They too had experienced All Ireland success last year with a Junior title under their belt:
A share of possession in the opening twenty minutes saw no clear cut chances for either side with both defences looking organised, keeping the opposition at bay:
The first real chance fell to De La Salle when Josh Aimiuhi lifted a dangerous ball over the top of the defence for Luke Power who found himself one on one with Sligo’s shot stopper Ryan Blake but Blake did well to keep out the first attempt and rose well to claim the rebound:
Sligo’s midfield maestro Ryan McManus, the goal hero from last year, was at the heart of all the Connacht lads build up play and had a 25 yard shot fly wide on 25 minutes:
Waterford’s lively Jack Maher showed good skill to pass two defenders and let fly from just outside the box which just went over the crossbar: Waterford looked comfortable on the ball in the final third and James Brown had a long range effort fall just wide of the mark:
Ryan McManus tested De La Salle’s goalkeeper Stephen Doheny from long range on three occasions before the half time interval with each one going straight at the keeper or going just wide:
Summerhill student Darragh Gaule got in on the action with a long range effort himself which also was straight at the Waterford goalkeeper:
It was the second half which brought the goal frenzy and it didn’t take long as one minute into the restart Sligo’s Malachy Spratt latched on to a through ball and found himself with nothing but time to slot calmly past a helpless Stephen Doheny for the opener:
The goal brought a bit more life into the second half and De La Salle were next to try score after good work from Andrew Phelan on the right put the ball in a dangerous area only for Josh Aimiuhi to ill/time his header:
The game was even much like the first half but had a bit of flare as both teams pressed for the all important second goal of the game:
Summerhill went from defending a corner to having Gary Armstrong’s shot cleared off the line by some miracle as De La Salle’s Dylan Walsh acted quickly: De La Salle’s Maurice Shanahan had a long range effort claimed by keeper Ryan Blake on the hour mark:
Sligo again almost doubled their tally after another shot was cleared off the line this time by Waterford’s Ross Battye after Stephen Kerins flicked on a corner and Brian Glennon’s shot was goalbound:
On 62 minutes Waterford’s Jack Maher had a superb free kick on goal palmed away by Ryan Blake whose performance between the sticks was solid:
Sligo’s second goal of the game came courtesy of substitute Darragh O’Brien who was only introduced to the action five minutes previously: Ryan McManus won the ball in midfield and Gary Armstrong chipped the ball over the Waterford defence for Darragh O’Brien to smash the ball to the top corner from close range with 22 minutes left to play:
The final twenty almost replicated the first twenty with both sides sharing possession and De La Salle pressing for a goal and Sligo calmly defending:
No other clear cut chances meant one thing and one thing only, Sligo progress to the Senior Cup Final which will be played next Wednesday, April 9 against Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana:
DE LA SALLE COLLEGE, WATERFORD: Stephen Doheny, Dylan Walsh, Ross Battye, Maurice Shanahan, Ross Fitzgerald, Daniel Pender, Andrew Phelan (Jeff Da Silva, 65), James Brown, Luke Power, Dylan McGuire, 79), Josh Aimiuhi, Jack Maher
Subs not used: James Grogan, Roy Butler, Luke O’Connor
TEACHERS: Robbie Power, Pete Munroe
SUMMERHILL COLLEGE, SLIGO: Ryan Blake, Kyle Harrigan, Dylan Conboy, Brian Glennon (Capt), Stephen Kerins, Darren Kilcawley, Mark McCallion, (Ryan McCarrick, 86), Ryan McManus, Darragh Gaule, (Darragh O’Brien, 63), Gary Armstrong, Malachy Spratt, (Brian McGowan, 79),
SUBS NOT USED: Oisin Conway, Kyle Cawley
TEACHER: Stephen Eustace, COACH: Steve Feeney
REFEREE: Joe Cassidy (Athlone)