ST: EUNAN’S COLLEGE, LETTERKENNY defeated Liverpool’s Cardinal Heenan College in a sun soaked AUL Complex to lift the Allen McKinstry Cup for the first time in the School’s history this afternoon (May 27):
The three day tournament was played in energy sapping conditions as St: Eunan’s and Cardinal faced off in the first and second place play/offs for the opportunity to capture the Inter-nations title:
With the game providing a flourish of goals it definitely lived up to expectations as the two teams went head to head:
Eunan’s were without defender Liam Blaney for the crunch clash as he picked up a wrist injury in the opening game against Welsh side Pontarrddulais Comprehensive from Swansea:
Cardinal Heenan got the perfect start to their campaign with a goal in the first five minutes of the game: The Donegal defence were caught napping when they failed to clear a simple ball in the box as Liverpool Captain Liam Walsh turned supplier from a corner kick which was delivered to perfection to the talented Scott Briscombe who slotted the ball home in a crowded penalty area:
This was cancelled out eight minutes later as the Eunan’s side were awarded a penalty midway through the first half as John Duncan was deemed to have fouled Patrick Driver on route to goal: Ciaran Maloney stepped up to convert the spot kick confidently to put his team back in contention:
The Eunan’s resurgence was short lived as Cardinal scored again on 17 minutes: Young Liverpudlian Briscombe had time and space available to him as he converted brilliantly for his second of the afternoon, giving the visitors the edge in the tie:
Eunan’s started the second half the brighter and had two great opportunities to equalise early on: Positive signs from the All Ireland Minor Cup title holders as they challenged forward: O’Brien, Mc Pherson and Hassett combined well to put pressure on Callum Mulby between the posts:
Caolan McDaid was through on goal midway through the second half with only keeper’ Mulby to beat: The shot/stopper darted off his line to clear the danger but handled the ball outside the box: The match officials failed to notice the infringement which could have changed the game for the Ulster side:
Mike Cummins tested Rory Carr at the other end with an excellent strike from distance but the Eunan’s net minder was showing great confidence to deny the Liverpool striker with a marvellous intervention ten minutes from time:
Oisin Hassett, Kieran McPherson and Ciaran Maloney were linking up well but the final ball into McDaid or Driver was lacking any real conviction:
Luke Nelis has unlucky not to see his effort do better as John Duncan blocked the ball on a goal bound chance:
With the game into added time now, the St: Eunan’s lads were looking like their title ambitions were coming to an end however the talented Kieran McPherson was on hand to steal the limelight: His late equaliser in the dying moments of the game brought the edgy decider into a dead ball situation
Tense times for keeper’s Mulby and Carr as the two teenagers were up against it as two penalties had to be re/spotted as they were deemed to have come off their line too early:
Some missed opportunities and fine saves ensured a pulsating end to proceedings as Eunan’s nicked the title on penalties with a 4/3 win against a determined and talented Cardinal outfit:
The Eunan’s team thoroughly deserved the title win as the Letterkenny lads served up some exquisite football throughout the course of the competition: Teacher’s Michael Kelly and Ollie Horgan put in sterling work with the team throughout the course of the year which saw them win the Umbro FAI Schools Minor Cup (U/15) last month: A triumphant season for the St: Eunan’s who experienced double All Ireland success with the lads claiming the Junior Cup title (U/17) too
It’s the first time that a representative school from the Republic of Ireland has won the Championship: A fitting tribute as it’s also the first year that the Association has hosted the competition since its establishment in 2008:
Letterkenny’s St: Eunan’s College had a difficult opening game against a gifted Pontarddulais Comprehensive School from Swansea on Friday afternoon: The Welsh side were one nil up at half time but Horgan’s men came back with a late flourish to win 2/1 and secure the points:
St: Joseph’s College and Dunfermline High School served up a tantalising tie with the game ending one all: Penalties were called for to secure a winner as Dunfermline eased through 4/1:
Derry’s St: Columb’s College who have qualified for this competition for the fourth time in five years faced Cardinal Heenan College, Steven Gerrard’s former School: It was an excellent outing as the English Schools Champions cruised through with a hat/trick of goals: Scott Briscombe scored twice while Mike Cummins got their third of the day:
Saturday morning’s fixtures saw another fine victory for St: Eunan’s as they defeated the Scots, Dunfermline High School 2/1, Derry’s St: Columb’s got two past St: Joseph’s of Galway to get some points on the board while Cardinal Heenan secured their second win on the trot with a closely fought 1/0 win against Swansea stars Pontarddulais Comprehensive:
With the final matches on Sunday morning serving up the play/off places, Dunfermline edged a third place finish in the Championship as they defeated St: Columb’s 2/1 in their final game:
The fifth and sixth place play/off saw St: Joseph’s comfortable winners over Pontarddulais claiming a 4/1 win to ensure the Galway School a fifth place finish:
Mr: Allen McKinstry, former Chairman and Secretary of the Northern Ireland Schools FA was on hand to present the Cup to the winning Captain Ciaran Maloney of St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny: A wonderful end to the Championship for the Saints and more importantly an Inter-nations title for Horgan and Kelly to savour
Participating Schools:
St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny (Republic of Ireland): Rory Carr, Nathan McElwaine, Darragh Harper, Liam Blaney, Darragh McWalters, Oisin Hassett, Paul O’Brien, Ciaran Maloney, Kieran McPherson, Patrick Driver, Caolan McDaid, Luke Nelis, Cormac Cannon, Ryan McLaughlin, Caolan Murray, Sam Murphy
Teachers: Ollie Horgan and Michael Kelly
St: Joseph’s College, Galway (Republic of Ireland): James Grealis, Tommy McClean, Ben Brennan, Robby Keane, Brian Lally, John Kennedy, Joe Hynes, Michael Costello, Shane Hulgraine, Conor Melody, Gary Kinneen, Josh Marvesley, Jack Coyne, Evan Deacy, Shane Gillespie, Ronan Murphy
Teachers: Robert Grealish, Barry McDermott, Jim Brennan
Cardinal Heenan College, Liverpool (England): Callum Mulby, Ross Wilson, Alex Morris, Adam Dunwoody, John Duncan, Liam Walsh (Capt), Lewis Cooper, Luke Griffiths, Lee Jones, Scott Briscombe, Mike Cummins, Patrick Parr, Lewis Bocking, Alan Pollard, Bailey Murphy, Jay Kilburn, Danny Murphy
Teacher: Paul Sewill, Mike Coope
Dunfermline High School, FIFE (Scotland): Quinn Franklin, Thomas Marshall, Hamish Michie, Cameron Mitchell, Marcus Hall, Alistair MCDonald, Yousef Asam, Scott Hynd, Euan Aitken, Scott Russell, James Laurie, Calum Murray, Morgan McInnes, Glenn Carter, Daryl Healy
Teacher: David Barclay, John Gardiner, Martin Sinclair
Pontarddulais Comprehensive School, Swansea (Wales): Josh Kilmister, Rhys Paddison, William Lewis, Matthew Davies, Chris Thomas, Sion Johnson, Joe Rodon (Capt), Edward Smith, Ceri Silvester, George Mbofona, Leon Johnston, Robert Miles, Shaun Morgans, William Bassett, Jordan Gibbs, Evan Gibbs, Tom Bowen
Teacher: Ceri Bushnell, A Fellowes, WR Thomas, R Steer, S Fletcher
St: Columb’s College, Derry (Northern Ireland): Dylan Doherty, Caoimhin McCallion, Matthew Kirk, Mark McAdam, Conor Quigley, Tiarnan Canning, Matty Doherty, Conor McDermott, Emmet Hargan, Darren Rush, Rory Holden, Joe McCartie, Stephen Duffy, Anthony Gillespie, Tiarnan Hargan, Conal Fagan
Teachers: Mark Tracey, James Green, P King, J Fullerton
ALLEN MCKINSTRY CUP FIXTURES & RESULTS:
Friday, May 25
St: Columb’s College 0/3 Cardinal Heenan College
St: Eunan’s College 2/1 Pontarddulais Comprehensive
St: Joseph’s College 1/1 Dunfermline High School (Dunfermline won 1/4 on pens)
Saturday, May 26
St: Columb’s College 2/0 St: Joseph’s College
St: Eunan’s College 2/1 Dunfermline High School
Cardinal Heenan College 1/0 Pontarddulais Comprehensive
Sunday, May 27
St: Eunan’s 2/2 Cardinal Heenan College (St: Eunan’s won 4/3 on pens)
St: Columb’s College 1/2 Dunfermline High School
St: Joseph’s College 4/1 Pontarddulais Comprehensive
Ranking:
Winners: St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny
Runners Up: Cardinal Heenan College, Liverpool
Third: Dunfermline High School, FIFE
Fourth: St: Columb’s College, Derry
Fifth: St: Joseph’s College, Galway
Sixth: Pontarddulais Comprehensive School, Swansea
END