Late rally from Raheny secures the riches
Ard Scoil La Salle, Raheny 1 – 0 St. Fachtna’s De La Salle, Skibbereen (AET)
Aaron Humphreys was the toast of Raheny as his headed goal in the second period of extra time handed victory to Adrian Lyons men in the FAI Schools Umbro Boys Junior Cup Final at Cahir Park, Tipperary.
The hosting of the Final was a great occasion for the Tipperary Club as they celebrate its Centenary in 2010 and the park was in splendid shape for this blue ribbon affair.
Ard Scoil La Salle, Raheny defeated Falcarragh PCC, Donegal 1-0 en route to the Final while their counterparts St. Fachtna’s enjoyed the same score line having defeated the experienced St. Mary’s of Galway. Both schools were new to this competition and had nothing to lose heading into this crunch encounter.
The large volume of spectators enjoyed a thrilling spectacle of soccer that went down to the wire. Both schools displayed a spirited performance which was played with great sportsmanship. The skill and talent on show was a credit to the management’s efforts over the year.
Skibbereen were first to impress as they made the early pressing with Dan McEoin having a header tipped over for a corner.
However Leinster Champions, Raheny soon began to get on top with their captain and front man, Dan Lodge, exerting a lot of pressure on the back four.
The tempo of the game increased when the Munster school were awarded a penalty on the half hour when a long ball played in by Jack Twomey freed Mark Collins down the left.
Tickle toes, Collins tried to round the keeper with some stylish footwork but had his feet taken from under him with the referee immediately showing the keeper yellow and pointing to the spot.
Tensions mounted as Twomey stepped up to put the Cork side ahead but he nervously placed his kick wide of the keeper's left.
The action intensified as minutes later, at the other end, Carl Grehan expertly played in Daniel Nugent whose left footed shot inside the box just cleared the rattling crossbar.
The atmosphere was electric as both teams exchanged opportunities to take the lead. Unfortunately none of the shots on goal found the back of the net much to the frustration of the huge travelling support as it remained a stalemate at half time.
The second half was nine minutes old when Paudie Crowley sent in a long free from the right with MacEoin heading just wide.
But Raheny enjoyed a concerted spell of pressure after that with Grehan forcing a good save out of Patrick Kirby on 52 minutes.
Kirby had an outstanding game between the posts for De La Salle showing why he was called for trials with Sunderland earlier this year. An active Kirby tipped over Killian Jenkinson's header off the subsequent corner.
Raheny's next chance came on the hour mark when off Aaron Collin's cross from the right, Lodge saw a shot deflected away for a corner.
Another chance from Raheny saw Collins shoot wide after Kirby had parried an effort from Lodge on 69 minutes.
Skibbereen in a rare attack then struck the post through Dan McEoin in the closing stages with extra time then following.
And after Collins had hit the side netting for Raheny in the first half, the Dublin side then made the breakthrough five minutes after the turnaround when Humphries headed home a corner from Ciaran McDonnell to the jubilant cheers of the rapturous Dubs.
The Cork side battled hard to find the equaliser and keep their hopes alive but unfortunately time was running out and Raheny stood strong to capture the Junior title with both teams contributed to a memorable finale.
St. Fachtna’s De La Salle, Skibbereen: Patrick Kirby, Trevor Roycroft, Thomas Hegarty, Dan McEoin, Paudie Crowley, Jack Twomey, Rudi Henwood, Brian Hurley, Jamie Walsh, Mark Collins, Danny O’Donovan
Subs: Kevin Davis for Jack Twomey (74 mins), Eoin O’Donnabhain, James Cahalane, Leon Burke, Jack O’Sullivan, Niall O’Leary, Diarmuid Collins and Shane Hourihane.
Ard Scoil La Salle, Raheny: Anto Brady, Ricky Shevlin, Ciaran Mc Donnell, Mathew Jackson, Killian Jenkinson, Daniel Byrne, Aaron Collins, Aaron Humphreys, Carl Grehan, Dan Lodge, Dan Nugent.
Subs: Luke Carter for Dan Nugent (78 mins), Mark Coleman, James Coates, Kevin Kavanagh Dunne, Andrew Jones, Lee Roche, Jake Wrench, Sean Cassin and Mark Cummins.
Referee: John Lyons (Tipperary)
Photos available on request
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