UMBRO FAI Schools Boys Leinster Minor Final
LARKIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3 DE LA SALLE WICKLOW 1
LARKIN Community College made sure it was not a case of third time unlucky with a sensational second-half turnaround against De La Salle in Tuesday's FAI Schools Minor Boys Leinster Final at Tolka Park.
The majority of the nine-year-old city centre school's squad, who were chasing a first ever Leinster title, had been part of last year's Leinster Final losing side and the under-13 side that came up short at the final hurdle a year previously.
Determined not to come out second best again, Larkin came flying out of the traps with chances for Brendon Miele and Adam Kelly in the opening stages, however it was their Wicklow counterparts who took the lead.
Striker Mark O'Sullivan made enough space for himself outside the box to chip a ball into the feet of Luke Byrne and he calmly dispatched the ball beyond Aaron Godfrey in goal.
Dane Moynihan was unlucky to see his volley from the edge of the box crash back off the crossbar soon after as the Dublin school immediately pushed for an equaliser, while Adam Cox and goal scorer Byrne himself went close at the other end.
Behind at the interval, it was predictable that Larkin would come out all guns blazing in the second half and they leveled the score within seven minutes of the restart through Adam Kelly.
The midfielder showed his class and quick feet when jinking his way through De La Salle's defence and he directed his neat finish beyond James Kavanagh and into the bottom corner.
The goal was a major blow to De La Salle and Larkin went about using the momentum to their advantage, with manager Gerry McGill introducing substitute Abdishakur Sheik into the game soon afterwards and he made an immediate impact.
Allowed to control a ball into the box from a miss-cleared corner with his chest, the substitute took his time before firing beyond the goalkeeper and giving his side the lead.
It was a harsh blow to De La Salle and in particular James Kavanagh in goal, who was excellent all game, and they could have done with striker James O'Sullivan getting a bit of luck when he found himself bearing down on Larkin's goal twice in quick succession.
O'Sullivan was unable to take advantage of the opportunities and it was another substitute for Larkin, this time Dean Mitchell, who put the result beyond doubt in the final minutes.
On the pitch for less than 60 seconds, the striker was on hand to take advantage of a rare mistake from Kavanagh and once the goalkeeper dropped a seemingly routine catch from a cross, Mitchell poked the ball into the net.
"For De La Salle it was disappointment that they will look to overcome when they take part in the Leinster league championship final today but for Larkin it was just nice to win for once according to their manager.
"It was a fantastic game of football between two good sides and I am just delighted we won in the end," said McGill.
"Most of our lads experienced the disappointment of the last two losses, so to win today is great for all of them."