St: Tiernan’s Community School, Balally 5/0 St: Mogue’s College, Bawnboy
Ernest Mwale (15, 60, 71, 80) Paddy Hennessy (86)
ST: TIERNAN’S, BALALLY came out on top of what was a closely fought game until the final half hour; the score line doesn’t do justice to a good performance from the St: Mogue’s lads reports Paul Kirwan:
Mullingar Athletic FC was the classy venue for this tough encounter yesterday (January 28): Strong winds and even some sunshine near the end of the game where some of the elements these teams had to cope with as well as the strong opposition:
A goal in the first half and a second half hat trick from the lively Ernest Mwale along with a 20 yard screamer from the productive Paddy Hennessy was more than enough to seal their school’s ticket to an All Ireland Final:
Though the score line suggests otherwise it was St: Mogue’s who dominated in midfield for long periods of the first half but just couldn’t find that killer final ball:
Both teams played some wonderful football with some silky skills coming from both sides:
St: Tiernan’s looked the more likely to score first and they did just that with a tidy finish into the bottom corner by their star striker Ernest Mwale after 15 minutes:
Some quick counter attacking football ensured the ball fell to the feet of the lively Ernest Mwale who made no mistake deceiving Liam English in the Cavan goal:
St: Mogue’s pupil Ryan Kelly came close to equalising moments later with an acrobatic effort that crept over the bar:
Although 1/0 down on the quarter hour mark; St: Mogues picked themselves up and had some good possession and a number of efforts on target before the half ended:
Half time score was St: Tiernan’s 1/0 St: Mogue’s
The Ulster men again started brightly and pushed for the equaliser and with the pressure pilling on it looked like they might have got themselves back in it only for some organised defending from the Dublin based school:
Cavan duo Liam McAweeney and Alex Sameret were exceptional but their efforts were just shy of the mark on numerous occasions
The hard work going forward didn’t pay off for St: Mogue’s as it was St: Tiernan’s who struck again against the run of play with yet again another counter attack: A neat through ball from midfielder Adam Shalroki sent Ernest Mwale through on goal for him to finish well on the hour:
Goal number three came in the 71st minute and this was to be a momentous goal as it sealed the hat trick and the match ball for Ernest Mwale who rounded the defender to slot past the keeper at his near post:
St: Mogue’s didn’t deserve this goal deficit as it unfairly labelled their performance as weak which is the complete opposite: St: Mogue’s maintained their composure and surprisingly the slow build up play was constantly leading to them threatening the opposition who were pushed back once again:
St: Mogue’s failure to score gave the opposition some new found confidence to wait their turn to counter attack and again in the 80th minute youngster Ernest Mwale hit the target for his fourth of the afternoon:
The Leinster lads were now in full control of the match and dominated possession in the final period which lead to their final goal which arguably could be the best of the day by centre half Paddy Hennessy: A powerful right footed strike from outside the area which rifled through a crowded goalmouth hit the top corner in the final minute of the game, wrapping up the win and more importantly sending St: Tiernan’s through to the John Murphy All Ireland Cup Final:
Leon Ryan played a captains role in the win and will be looking forward to leading out the team on February 12: The Balally crew will await the winners as reigning All Ireland Champions, Nagle Community College and newcomers Balla Secondary School, Castlebar do battle tomorrow, Thursday at Aisling Annacotty FC:
ST TIERNAN’S COMMUNITY SCHOOL, BALALLY, DUBLIN: Liam English, Adam Noctor, Sadeeq Jasim, Paddy Hennessy, Cian Ball, Adam Shalroki (Maxwell Nkwocha 75) Terry Lawlor (Dylan Gray 27), Leon Ryan, John Nhwocha (Robert Leonard 83) , Ernest Mwale, Kyle Cunningham
Subs not used:David Adeoti, Adam Manley,
TEACHERS: Alan McHugh, Ronan Conneely
ST MOGUE’S COLLEGE, BAWNBOY, CAVAN: Conor Maguire, Brendan McGoldrick, Dillon Raythorne, Bujus Kelly (Aaron Donohoe 84), Michael Devine, Patrick McGoldrick, Liam McAweeney, Alec Sameret, Haydan Kelleher, Ryan Kelly (Darren McTaggart 69), Conor McAweeney
Subs not used:Shane Galligan, Conor Mirrna, Jason Pocra, Killian Lenard
TEACHER: Paul Martin
REFEREE: Paul Tone (Athlone)