Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana2/0 Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge
George Kelly (16, 41)
BUNCRANA'S Scoil Mhuire booked their place in the UMBRO FAI Schools Dr: Tony O’Neill Cup Final with an impressive 2/0 victory over Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge in Gortakeegan yesterday (April 1)
A first/half brace from Captain Georgie Kelly proved decisive as Paddy Carr's men held on in the second half for what turned out to be a fairly comfortable victory:
The Kildare side fielded the same starting eleven that defeated Confey College in their Provincial decider and impressed early on:
Ciaran Troy spotted keeper Caolan McGonagle off his line and attempted a daring lob from distance, unfortunately for the youngster the ball flew over the upright with two minutes on the clock:
Three minutes later, Evan Aldwell played a high ball into Daragh McHugh inside the box, McHugh’s header was saved brilliantly by McGonagle as Patrician pushed high for the opener
Scoil Mhuire were missing three influential players for this encounter with the absence of Darragh O’Connor (injured), Peter Doherty (concussion) and Ryan Varma (club commitments) but this didn’t stop them putting in an impressive performance against the Leinster outfit:
Scoil Mhuire took the lead on the quarter hour mark when Mark Coyle combined brilliantly with strike partner Kelly who made no mistake from the edge of the box:
The Newbridge crew had a call for a penalty dismissed by referee Paul McGeown on 25 minutes following a high ball in the box contested by Ciaran Glynn and Michael Noone: Noone adjudged to be the injured party in this incidence
Patrician had another chance down the right wing as Ciaran Troy delivered a good ball into the danger zone with Ciaran Glynn’s glancing header testing McGonagle on the half hour mark
Coyle and Kelly linked up three minutes before the break to put the Buncrana side two goals to the good, when Coyle again released Kelly who beat Masterson at his near post:
Patrician made two changes at half time to revitalise their side with Kieran Morris and Robert Abbott introduced:
Patrician were forced with a few long distance efforts from Logan and Glynn but John Campbell was sterling in defence to thwart their efforts
Substitute Ben McCormack whipped in a ball from a corner kick and Jamie Harte’s header was on target only for a spectatular one handed save from McGonagle on 76 minutes: This was the best of the action in the second period as Scoil Mhuire held out for a memorable victory:
Paddy Carr’s side will await the winners of the other semi final which takes place in Athlone IT tomorrow (Thursday) with De La Salle College, Waterford up against last year’s All Ireland Champions Summerhill College, Sligo in an epic battle which will kick off at 1:30pm
SCOIL MHUIRE SS, BUNCRANA: Caolan McGonagle, Michael Noone, Kealan Dillon, Ryan Doherty, John Campbell, Calvin Gallagher (Paul Doherty, 87), Michael Coyle (Christopher McKiney, 69), Paul McDermott, Georgie Kelly (Capt), Mark Coyle, Liam Doherty:
SUBS NOT USED: Jack McDaid, Ryan McLaughlin, Mark McElhinney
TEACHERS: Paddy Carr, William O’Connor
PATRICIAN SS, NEWBRIDGE: Aaron Masterson; Evan Aldwell, Ian Meehan, Con Kavanagh, Jamie Harte, Adam Burke (Kieran Morris, h/t), Seán Healy (Ben McCormack, 69), Michael Logan, Ciaran Troy (Robert Abbott, h/t), Ciaran Glynn, Daragh McHugh,
SUBS NOT USED: Dylan Downey, Cillian Whelan
TEACHERS: Karl Hegarty, Riadhain McBride
REFEREE: Paul McGeown (Monaghan)