Following on from their recent Munster and All-Ireland success, 16 members of the De La Salle College Minor (U14) soccer squad traveled to Lilleshal National Sports Centre in Shropshire, England to represent FAI Schools in the Schools Association Football International Board (SAFIB) U14 Cup Finals 15-17 May 2009.
They were there to compete against teams representing England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
On Friday evening under lights in Lilleshal De La Salle played the representatives from Northern Ireland, St. Columb’s College. In a very close game De La Salle took the lead from a fantastic strike from Christopher Shum, who cut in from the right wing to place the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner. One lapse in concentration from De La Salle brought St. Columb’s College back into the game, which finished 1-1.
On Saturday morning De La Salle played the English Champions, Audenshaw School from Manchester. Going in at half time nil all it was a very close game with De La Salle clearing their own goal line twice, but also crashing 2 off the crossbar before half time. The second half continued to be a close affair with De La Salle this time hitting the up right twice in the space of 15 seconds, with strikes from Gavin Jacob and Conor Whittle. However it wasn’t to be for De La Salle on Saturday morning as Audenshaw scored 2 before the end of the game.
Sunday morning had the meeting of De La Salle and Ysgol John Bright from Wales. This again proved to be a very tight affair. It was the Welsh representatives who took the lead before half time with 2 goals. However it was De La Salle who came out fighting for the second half. A positional change early in the second half, of player of the tournament, Dylan Foley, from centre half to centre forward brought De La Salle back into the game. Two stunning goals within the space of ten minutes from Foley brought De La Salle level. A penalty from Mark O’Keeffe put De La Salle in the lead for the first time in the game, however a late equalizer from Ysgol John Bright brought the game to penalities. With goals from Mark O’Keeffe, Dylan Foley, Patrick Fitzgerald and Jason O’Neill, and a save from keeper Sam O’Neill, De La Salle ensured victory in their final game.
De La Salle: Sam O’Neill, Gavin Jacob, Jason O’Neill, Dylan Foley, Gavin O’Donovan, Conor Whittle, Liam Sammon, Karim Abdou, Tadhg Whelan, Patrick Fitzgerald, Mark O’Keeffe, Oisin Morgan, Conor Gannon, Christopher Shum, Mark MacManus, Conor Sheehan.
Management: Derek O’Brien, Anrdias O’Brien, Maurice Brady
