Malahide Community School 2/1 Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana (AET, 1/1 f/t)
Dylan Cashin (41), Eric Harold (90+3) Georgie Kelly (47)
Michael O’Sullivan’s Malahide Community School needed extra time to shake off the efforts of Buncrana’s Scoil Mhuire in a cracking game in Monaghan United FC yesterday (March 6)
The Leinster lads got out of jail following Harry Forshaw’s missed penalty on 50 minutes which could have changed the game for the Ulster side:
Dylan Cashin put the Leinster lads in front just four minutes from the break as he latched on to a cross field ball from Colm Curtis on the edge of the box: Cashin's pile driver left Harry Doherty flatfooted on the goal line as the ball smashed to the top of the Buncrana net:
Scoil Mhuire responded almost immediately after the restart with a Georgie Kelly special:
However, Eric Harold was the hero for Malahide with only three minutes gone in additional time as he secured the winner for the Malahide men:
Glen Daly was a marked absentee from Malahide’s starting eleven following his dismissal at their provincial decider to Clonkeen College however this gave rise to the introduction of youngster Fionn Cahill for their All Ireland semi final tie:
The lively Georgie Kelly was causing some concern to the Malahide back four as good quality ball was arriving to his feet courtesy of the industrious duo of Denver Coyle and Darragh O’Connor:
Kelly made a sparking run down the left flank nine minutes in which brought him to the edge of the 18, but the danger was averted by a strong tackle from Ciaran Callaghan who was outstanding throughout:
Ryan Curran’s effort three minutes later saw a stinging effort slip through the hands of Keeper Kevin Dunne in the goal mouth, fortunate for Dunne that the ball drifted over the crossbar to avert an embarrassing situation:
Malahide’s response was almost immediate with Dylan Cashin the instigator yet again: His through ball to Gavin O’Shaughnessy was timed perfectly but the youngster’s effort was deflected off Ryan Doherty’s right foot and over the crossbar:
With 39 minutes gone, Ryan Varma and Georgie Kelly played exhibition football as their one two from midfield took Kelly to the edge of the 18, however his excellent attempt on goal was blocked well by Jacob Ferguson and cleared out over the end line by Fionn Cahill to avert the danger:
Malahide were playing the counter attack at every opportunity and their hard work pressing forward paid dividends on 41 minutes as Curtis was on hand to fed Cashin on the edge of the box: The Malahide contingency was left celebrating as his wonder strike rattled the net to give the Leinster lads the upper hand on proceedings:
The half time interval was a welcome call for Scoil Mhuire as they got to regroup and focus on the task in hand: With the batteries fully re/charged, Paddy Carr’s crew took only a few minutes to find their equaliser as the inform Georgie Kelly finished well following excellent work from Ryan Varma and Daniel Doherty:
Buncrana were experiencing a purple patch in the following ten minutes and their work ethic was rewarded following a foul on Darragh O’Connor in the box by Jacob Ferguson: Harry Forshaw was left with the spot kick as the pressure mounted: The Scoil Mhuire student failed to get his shot on target which was a major boost to the Malahide side:
With the danger averted, Malahide went on the offensive:
Further strikes from Darragh O’Connor and Denver Coyle were wide of the mark for Buncrana:
Harry Doherty was made work in the Buncrana net as he produced a double save from Gavin O’Shaughnessy and Dylan Cashin in quick succession as it was end to end stuff:
With twenty minutes left in the game a golden opportunity arose for Ryan Varma to make his mark: His powerful run down the left wing found his tame effort hit the side netting:
Both teams failed to hit the target in the last quarter which took the game into additional time:
With only three minutes played Malahide’s Eric Harold was at the right place at the right time as he slotted home in a crowded six yard box following fancy footwork from Dylan Cashin and Mark Brennan to find him in space:
The second period of additional time saw an attempted volleyed lob from Darragh O’Connor on Kevin Dunne but the ball just carried too much pace to do any real damage to Malahide:
Fionn Cahill went agonising close to extending Malahide’s lead but an acrobatic save from Harry Doherty kept Buncrana’s belief alive:
Further attempts on goal by Georgie Kelly and Darragh O’Connor were dealt with admirably by Mark Brennan and Ciaran Callaghan as time was running out for Paddy Carr’s charges:
Malahide will now await the winners of the other crunch decider which sees Corkian’s St: Aidan’s Community College face Connacht kingpins St: Mary’s College, Galway in the other semi final match: That game will kick off Thursday, March 8 at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore (KO 2:45pm)
The Dr: Tony O’Neill Cup Final is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 as Malahide make plans in advance of the big day:
MALAHIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Kevin Dunne; Jacob Ferguson, Colm Curtis, Fionn Cahill, Ciaran Callaghan, Mark Brennan, Eric Harold, Shane Woods, Dylan Cashin, Conor Mullarkey, Gavin O’Shaughnessy:
Not used: Dylan McNulty, Brian Heffernan, Sean McMahon, Ciaran McGahan:
Teachers: Michael O’Sullivan and Stephen Tierney
SCOIL MHUIRE SS, BUNCRANA: Harry Doherty, Harry Forshaw, Ryan Doherty, Peter Doherty, Caomhan Doherty, Ryan Curran, Denver Coyle (Aidan Doughan, 71), Darragh O’Connor, Georgie Kelly, Ryan Varma, Daniel Doherty
Not used: James Wallace, Shane Derleih, John Campbell, Michael Coyle, Caolan McGonagle
Teachers: Paddy Carr and William O’Connor
REFEREE: Paul McGeown (Monaghan)