St: Tiernan’s Community School, Balally, Dublin v Balla Secondary School, Mayo
Gerry Canavan (65), Bryan Walsh (75), Dave Clarke (85)
BALLA SECONDARY SCHOOL emerged as All Ireland Champions following a tense encounter with St: Tiernan’s CS, Balally in Mullingar Athletic FC yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, February 12)
The first half proved scoreless but Balla enjoyed more of the possession with Cian Mannion and Ben Freyne craving out some wonderful chances:
The second half produced three excellent goals with Balla proving more clinical in front of goal:
Gerry Canavan the hero of the semi final who scored a hat/trick produced another crucial goal for his side with a close range finish on 65 minutes
Shortly after the goal St: Tiernan’s came straight back with a spectacular effort courtesy of Leon Ryan, just shaving the woodwork
Vice Captain Bryan Walsh doubled the Balla boys lead on 75 minutes with a marvellous solo run deceiving four defenders to slot the ball past Liam English:
Maxwell Nkocha was unlucky not to give his team a way back into the tie after his chance went a begging:
But it was Balla who dealt the final blow to an unlucky Tiernan’s side with their third coming five minutes from time when Dave Clarke rose highest in the box following a set piece on the edge of the box to smash the ball into the top corner:
A historic day for Balla, capturing their first FAI Schools All Ireland Cup title, a wholesome team effort proving successful for the Mayo side
ST: TIERNAN’S COMMUNITY SCHOOL, BALALLY: Liam English, Ebube Ejiogu (Maxwell Nkowcha, 55), Sadeq Jasim, Cian Ball, Patrick Hennessy, Terry Lawlor (John Nkowcha, 28) Adam Noctor, Leon Ryan, Kyle Cunningham, Ernest Mwale, Adam Shahrokhi
Subs: Robert Leonard, Dylan Gray, David Adeoti
Teachers: Alan McHugh, Ronan Connely
BALLA SECONDARY SCHOOL: Mathew Flanagan, Dylan Padden, Colm Murphy (Eoin O’Neill), Shane Conway (Captain), Dave Clarke, Ben Freyne, Cian Mannion, Darren Murray, Bryan Walsh (VC) (Luke Ralph), Liam Flately, Gerry Canavan (Jason Barrett)
Subs: Keelan McDonnell, Ciaran Kilkenny, Eoin Gilligan, Declan Giblin
Teacher: Kenneth Nally, Conor Walsh
REFEREE: Eugene Deering (Roscommon)