Leinster Schools retain Interprovincial title
Leinster secured their second consecutive title and eighth title overall, when they landed the FAI Schools Boys’ Interprovincial series after an exhausting three match series in Tullamore.
The Champions went into the final series of games tidied on 3 points each with Connacht. This ensured a pulsating conclusion to the final games of the series on Sunday morning.
The pressure was on John Kerr’s men as they kicked off against defending champions, Leinster on Sunday morning in the first of the day’s fixtures. The Ulster men were looking to improve on their previous performances in the tournament as they suffered defeats at the hands of Munster and Connacht coming into the final game.
The first half was played at a very high tempo with Leinster expressing their authority on the game early on. This game was a lack lustre performance by Kerr’s men as the Ulster defence made simple defensive errors to gift two goals to Leinster, the first coming from Gavin Broughall, Athlone Community College and the second taken by Shane Murray, Arklow Community College.
Three further goals in the second half from Carl Forsyth Cabinteely Community School, Michael Whelan St. Brendan’s College and Gary Burke Larkin Community College sealed a comprehensive victory over a very fatigued Ulster outfit.
The second of Sunday’s matches saw Connacht heading into this game knowing they needed to win by five clear goals to secure the Interprovincial title. A difficult feat when they were facing a gallant Munster side.
Connacht took the lead in the first half with good work from Barry O’Mahoney, Summerhill College to link with Danny Fallon, Sancta Marie College. Fallon then played a through ball into the feet of Peter Drevins who placed the ball past keeper Edward Finn.
David Cowpar, Crescent College Comprehensive equalised just before half time to revitalise the Munster men.
The second half was played with high intensity and Connacht rose to the occasion with Peter Drevins, St. Gerard’s College, Castlebar securing his second goal of the day with fifteen minutes remaining.
Unfortunately for Connacht, the Munster defence was too solid and Coley Kelly’s men could not increase their goal tally and the game ended with a 2-1 victory to Connacht. Disappointment for Connacht, relief for Leinster. Both Leinster and Connacht were level with 5 points each. However Leinster had the superior goal difference thus ensuring Leinster glory.
On the second day of the series, Connacht overcame an unlucky Ulster side under controversial circumstances.
Ulster had taken the lead courtesy of Darren McGeever, PCC Falcarraigh. This was short lived as Noel Varley, Clifden Community College levelled the game ten minutes later.
Connacht were then gifted a penalty when Chris Boyle, Deele College, Raphoe slid in to defend a Connacht cross and was deemed to of handled the ball in the process. Billy Lane, Presentation College, Athenry made no mistake as he slotted home the winner from the spot kick.
The second fixture on Saturday afternoon, saw the clash of 2006 winners, Munster play defending champions Leinster in this nail biting encounter. The two sides were slow to start and good work by both defences ensured the game remained scoreless at half time.
A moment’s lack of concentration in the second half, let Leinster lad Michael Whelan, St. Brendan’s College, Bray in to drive home the winner early in the second half.
The closing minutes were a nervous affair for the leaders as Munster pressed forward looking for an equaliser but Leinster held firm to ensure the win.
Under adverse weather conditions, the Interprovincial campaign commenced on Friday evening with a very entertaining game which saw Leinster and Connacht at logger heads for most of the 70 minutes of football.
Leinster were first to make an impact in the game when Garvan Broughall narrowly missed out on chipping the Connacht keeper.
However, Leinster didn’t have to wait long to register their only goal of the game with Paul Corry impressing to release Michael Whelan to slot home from close range.
Connacht were eager to draw level and did so in the second half when Robbie Benson, Marist College reacted quickest to a defensive error and rolled the ball past keeper Ryan O’Flaherty of St. Kevin’s CBS.
The second game on Friday evening, drew Munster and Ulster together.
Michael Molyneaux had the Munster players well prepared for their opening encounter with Ulster.
This was evident early on when Zach Shanahan, Tramore CBS scored a hat trick while Evan McGuire, Clonmel High School scored their fourth.
Ulster responded with a goal from Jimmy Fallon, St. Patrick’s College, Cavan after fine defensive work from Philip O’Callaghan, Largy College, Clones.
Sean Moynihan, Douglas Community School made no mistakes as he was gifted a fifth goal for Munster.
Ulster pressed forward at every opportunity and their work rate improved with a well taken goal from Darren McGeever, PCC Falcarraigh.
RESULTS
Friday 10th October: Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore
Leinster 1 - 1 Connacht
Munster 5 - 2 Ulster
Saturday 11th October: Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore
Connacht 2 – 1 Ulster
Leinster 1 – 0 Munster
Sunday 12th October: Athlone IT
Leinster 5 – 0 Ulster
Connacht 2 – 1 Munster
POINTS
Leinster 5 pts
Connacht 5 pts
Munster 2 pts
Ulster 0 pts
Leinster win on goal difference
PROVINCIAL SQUADS
LEINSTER: Ryan O’Flaherty (St. Kevin’s CBS), Jason Dwayne (St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne), James Scallan (Arklow Community College), Garvan Broughall (Athlone Community College), Tomas Boyle (Salesian College, Celbridge), Paul Corry (Belvedere College), Shane Murray (Arklow Community College), Gareth Callaghan (Hartstown Community School), Jimmy Kedhane (Kilkenny CBS), Carl Forsyth (Cabinteely Community School), Michael Whelan (St. Brendan’s College, Bray), Gary Burke (Larkin College), Craig Rothery (Firhouse College), Stephen Relihan (Athlone Community College), Craig Walshe (Drimnagh Castle), David Quirke (St. Patrick’s School, Navan)
Management: Paddy O’Reilly (Trinity Comprehensive, Ballymun), John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy), Conor Foley (Athlone Community College), Ger Prendergast (Physio)
MUNSTER: Edward Finn (Douglas Community School, Cork) Pierce Donnachie (Cobh Community College), Ian Storan (Crescent College Comprehensive), John Forrest (Douglas Community School), David Cowpar (Crescent College Comprehensive), Brian Nolan (St. Paul’s Community College, Waterford), Wayne Bruton (Carrigaline Community School), Jason Hughes (Limerick CBS), Evan McGuire (Clonmel), Shane Nolan (St. Paul’s Community School), Eoin Hanrahan (Limerick CBS), Dean Kelly (Doughlas Community School), Sean Moynihan (Douglas Community School), Zach Shanahan (Tramore CBS), Damian McCarthy (Carrick CBS), Josh Byrne (De La Salle College, Waterford).
Management: Michael Molyneaux (Limerick CBS) and David Dineen (High School, Clonmel)
CONNACHT: Gerard Hanley (St. Josephs College), Philip Ryan (St. Mary’s College), Gary Kelly (St. Joseph’s College), Neil Harney (St. Aloysius, Athlone), Jason Finn (Holy Rosary, Mountbellow), Barry O’Mahoney (Summerhill College, Sligo), Brian Conlon (Colaiste Einde), Danny Fallon (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh), Robbie Benson (Marist College, Athlone), Peter Drevins (St. Gerard’s College, Castlebar), Brian Gaffney (St. Joseph’s College), Noel Varley (Clifden Community College), Eric Holland (St. Mary’s College), Billy Lane (Presentation College, Athenry), Enda Curran (Colaiste Einde), Conor Winne (St. Josephs College).
Management: Coley Kelly and Dominic Lally (St. Joseph’s College)
ULSTER: Marty Mc Ginty (Deele College, Raphoe), Chris Bogle (Deele College, Raphoe), Owen Ward (Pobail Scoil Gaoth Dobhair), Garbhan Grant (St. Eunans College, Letterkenny), Darren Mc Geever (PCC Falcarragh) Barry O Donnell (Deele College, Raphoe) Thomas Mc Monagle (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Cillian Morrison (St. Eunans College, Letterkenny), Josh Mailey (St. Eunans College, Letterkenny), Eric Roberts (Loreto Community College, Milford) Jack Keys (Moville Community College) Johnny Bonner (Scoil Mhuire Buncrana), Seimi Friel (Mulroy College, Milford), Aaron Carey (St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan), Jimmy Fallon (St. Patricks College, Cavan), Philip O Callaghan (Largy College, Clones).
Management: John Kerr (Patrician College, Carrickmacross), Paddy Carr (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Seamus Gallagher (Moville Community College)
END