FAI Schools First Year Boys National Cup Semi Final (Under 14, Large Schools)
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
St. Francis College, Rochestown 4-0 Coláiste Chiaráin, Athlone
Darragh O’Flaherty (4), Jack Punch (50, 60+1, 60+3)
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE, ROCHESTOWN saw off Athlone’s Coláiste Chiaráin in the FAI Schools First Year Boys National Cup Semi Final in Fairview Rangers AFC this afternoon, May 2.
The Cork side got the dream start with the industrious Darragh O’FLAHERTY finding the net after just four minutes of play.
Jack Punch saw his glancing header on target chalked off for offside twenty minutes in.
Athlone’s Jacob Zalewski and Thomas Jordan were lively up-front, but the Rochestown defensive held firm at every opportunity.
St. Francis led by one at the break.
It was Punch again who came close to extending his sides goal tally but another glancing header from the Cork scholar hit the crossbar with nine minutes gone in the second period.
Eventually Jack PUNCH got his goal with ten minutes remaining as Darragh O’Flaherty turned supplier with a delightful ball in the box and Punch made no mistake.
Athlone threw players forward to try and mount a comeback late on, but Rochestown struck on the counterattack.
PUNCH extended his goal tally to two with Rochestown’s third a minute into added time. His hat-trick was completed two minutes later as he slotted past the hardworking Alex McEvoy. The game ending 4-0 to the Munster stars.
Athlone were a good side, and the two late goals were sucker punches to the team as they held on well to get back into the game but Luke Dunning in goal was excellent and the Cork defensive were exceptional.
Stephen Bermingham’s team will now await the winners of the other semi-final which sees Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana take on St. Benildus College, Stillorgan on Thursday, May 4 in Monaghan United FC (1.0).
The National Cup Final is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17 (1.0).
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE, ROCHESTOWN | Alex McEvoy, Conor Stack, Colm Tynan, Morgan Kelleher ©, Luke Mullins, Finn Doyle, Cillian Ross, John Dollard Young, Jack Punch, Darragh O’Flaherty, Darragh Lynch
ROLL ON / OFF SUBS | Adam Kirwan, Callum Hanna, Patrick Murphy, Daniel Collier, Cillian Farrell
TEACHERS | Stephen Bermingham, Graham Cummins
COLÁISTE CHIARÁIN, ATHLONE | Luke Dunning, Dylan Goode, Daniel Goode, Jack Brooks, Conor Kelly, Bobby Lenehan, Keelan Foley, Gavin Costello, Jacob Zalewski ©, Thomas Jordan, Jamie Brien
ROLL ON / OFF SUBS | Thomas Carberry, James O’Brien, Eoin Lennon, Patrick Finneran, Joseph Daly
TEACHERS | Seámus Gannon, Evan Healy
MATCH OFFICIAL | Michael Kiely (Limerick)
