Carndonagh Community School 3-0 Arklow CBS
Keelan Doherty (27), Christy McLaughlin (58, 65)
CARNDONAGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL sealed victory in the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Dr. Tony’ O’Neill National Senior Cup semi-final today at the Peace Link, Clones following a sterling performance against newcomers Arklow CBS.
The impressive Patrick Kibbler had the first opportunity to open the scoring for Arklow 10 minutes in but the stinging shot from distance was palmed wide by the versatile Daniel Houghton. Again Ger Collins’ side pressed on and Pat Dempsey combined well with Cian Li for his glancing header to be just wide of the top post.
Christy McLaughlin tested Gary Fennell at the other end and the net minder was equal to the challenge as he saved well from 18 yards out.
The deadlock was broken in the 27th minute as Keelan Doherty got on the scoresheet with a well worked close range effort.
Darren Dempsey linked very well with colleague Cian Li but Houghton was in fine form to deny the youngster with 10 minutes to the interval.
Christy McLaughlin doubled Carn’s advantage 13 minutes into the restart and bagged his second of the afternoon, Carn’s third on 65 minutes to ensure some breathing room for Cavanagh’s charges.
Houghton had a busy second period was on hand to keep a clean sheet having denied Stewart Mills and Ross Hanley late on.
Substitute Declan McLaughlin was unfortunate to see his set piece rattle Fennell’s crossbar with 14 minutes remaining.
Martin Cavanagh’s men will now meet Presentation Brothers College, Cork in the National Cup Final this season. The Cork School defeated Presentation College, Athenry last Tuesday to qualify for the big occasion. Both schools will savor the opportunity to contest this year’s Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Cup.
CARNDONAGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Daniel Houghton; James McKinney, Brian McEleney; Sam Todd, Darragh Folan, Josh Lafferty, Christy McLaughlin, Evan Tweed, Keelan Doherty, Cathal Farren. Brandon Browne
SUBS: Declan McLaughlin for Doherty (62), Ben Lafferty for McKinney (75), Tiarnan Devine, Matthew Cavanagh, Kieran Farrell, Mikey Friel for McLaughlin (85), Martin Fierentini
TEACHER: Martin Cavanagh
ARKLOW CBS: Gary Fennell, Cormac O’Shea, Callum Walsh, Jack Somers, Thomas Farrell, Pat Dempsey, Patrick Kibbler, Stewart Mills, Cian Li, Darren Dempsey, Ross Hanley.
SUBS: Eoin O’Neill, Callum Devereaux for Kibbler (64) Aaron Healy, Michael Hudson for O’Shea (87), Jack Byrne, Conor Breslin for Dempsey (78), Zack Kilbride
TEACHER: Ger Collins
REFEREE: Seamas Finnegan (Monaghan)