ST KIERAN'S, KILKENNY 3 DE LA SALLE, DUNDALK 0
By Gavin Earley
Thursday, March 26 2009
TWO quick goals in succession early in the second half saw off the threat of De La Salle College and handed St Kieran's College from Kilkenny their first ever FAI Schools Umbro Leinster Junior Boys title in last Wednesday's final at the Oscar Traynor Complex.
Despite taking an early lead through striker John Power, St Kieran’s were put under huge pressure from their Dundalk rivals and required a combination of Dean Shiel's missed penalty before the break and a quick double after the interval to secure the victory.
Traditionally a hurling school, St Kieran's have produced names such as DJ Carey and Henry Shefflin, so it was fitting that their most potent weapon on the day should have a major connection to the county's favourite sport.
Striker John Power is the brother of three-time All Ireland hurling champion Richie, another former student of the school, and he wasted no time in putting his side ahead with 10 minutes on the clock.
Midfielder Mikey Brennan had already illustrated the opportunity for success from set-pieces when he cannoned his header off the crossbar five minutes earlier and Power made no mistake with his effort when he flicked in at the near post from an in-swinging free kick.
Kevin O'Hanlon responded immediately for De La Salle at the other end with a dangerous shot that required a block from Sam Johnston and after Brennan again failed to take advantage of space in the box, O'Hanlon carved out a glorious chance for his side to equalise.
Mid-way through the first half the striker's powerful run and shot forced Robert Hayes to handle the ball in the box and concede the penalty, however defender Shiel blazed his effort over the bar.
Heartbreak for Shiel and De La Salle, but they didn't hang around feeling sorry for themselves and within minutes the tall defender found himself free at the back post from a corner and cannoned his header off the post.
Ironically the final chance of a half St Kieran’s began so well went to the Dundalk school and the result could have been so different had Barry Carr not blasted his close-range chance over the bar.
The large crowd of supporters from both sides were probably expecting more of the same from the trailing side in the second half but within five minutes of the restart the result was beyond doubt.
First Power found himself with enough space in the box to improvise and loop his header into the far corner once Leo Gallagher failed to clear the danger and three minutes later De La Salle were stunned beyond belief when a long clearance from goalkeeper Craig Cummins put Tim Healy Brennan through and he fired an effort beyond Darren Breen in goal with 35 minutes remaining.
"This is a massive occasion for soccer in our school and the lads have done so well as a team to win this final," said St Kieran's manager Dan O'Connor. "They really had us on the ropes in the first half and a sigh of relief came when we scored early in the second half, but I really can't praise the achievement of the group of lads we have enough."
ST KIERAN'S COLLEGE: Craig Cummins (Kevin Duncan 74), Stephen Chappell, Jason Quan, Sam Johnston, Robert Hayes, Luke Hickey, Tim Healy Brennan, Mikey Drennan, John Power, Sean Lowry, Declan McQuillan. Subs not used: Thomas O'Hanrahan, Jason Nugent, Eoghan Connolly, Stephen Thompson.
DE LA SALLE COLLEGE: Darren Breen, Darren McMahon, Michael McDonnell, Rian Hand (Stephen Agbogbe 52), Michael Keane, Daniel Kerr, Leo Gallagher, Barry Carr, Kevin O'Hanlon, Conal Smyth (Martin Murphy 71), Dean Shiel. Subs not used: Kieran Lenehan.
Referee: Dave Walsh.
