FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill National Senior Cup Semi Final (Under 19, Large Schools)
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew 2-1 Douglas Community School
Ryan Nolan (26), Cormac Proulx (42) Josh Fitzpatrick (37 pen)
NEWBIES Holy Rosary College of Mountbellew caused another upset with a mammoth victory over experienced outfit Douglas Community School in the Dr. Tony O’Neill National Senior Cup Semi Final in Fairview Rangers AFC yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, February 28)
The Galway side edged out the Munster Champions by the narrowest of margins as Holy Rosary College made history with reaching their first ever FAI Schools National Cup Final in their debut season at Under 19s level.
A brace of goals in the first half courtesy of Ryan NOLAN and Cormac PROULX cancelled out a Josh FITPATRICK penalty to see them secure a spot in the National showcase on March 15.
The Galway crew started lively and a breakthrough goal came on 26 minutes when Aironas Konlauskas sent a delightful ball in from a corner kick that was headed home by Ryan NOLAN.
Douglas responded from the penalty spot when the talented Josh FITZPATRICK netted calmly with 37 minutes on the clock.
However, Holy Rosary College again took the lead three minutes from the break when Cormac PROULX smashed home to make it 2-1 at the interval.
A pulsating contest which saw eight yellow and two red cars brandished over the 98 minutes of action.
Hero turned villain Cormac Proulx saw red along with Douglas striker Devon Gibson following a touchline melee with eighteen minutes remaining.
Douglas had a few half-chances to grab another equaliser as Captain Harvey Skieters headed over the crossbar and Joey Gibson skimmed his effort left of the post in the dying minutes of the game.
Goalkeeper Rory Walsh marshalled the backline as the defence hold strong to see out the game with eight minutes of additional time played.
Micheál O’Donnell’s side will await the winners of the other semi-final which will see Wexford CBS entertain St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar on Thursday, March 2.
DOUGLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL | Bruno Bosnjak, Dylan O’Sullivan, Luke O’Herlihy, Lucas Curtain, Ciaran Nestor, Lee O’Sullivan, Josh Fitzpatrick, Joey Gibson, Devon Gibson, Harvey Skieters ©, Ciaran O’Suilleabhain
SUBS | Kyle Leahy for O’Suilleabhain (HT)
SUBS NOT USED | Ross O’Herlihy, Anabal Ramos, Raymond Kiss, Kealan Crowe
TEACHER | Kevin Ronayne
HOLY ROSARY COLLEGE, MOUNTBELLEW | Rory Walsh, Conor Byron, Ian Fahy, Conor French, Tomas Riskell, Ciaran Nolan, Aironas Konlauskas, Tiernan Proulx, Cormac Proulx, Ryan Nolan, Ronan Murphy ©
SUBS | Ciaran Mulhern for Konlauskas (HT)
SUBS NOT USED | Tony Shields, Cian Lennon, Shane Duffy, Jack Connolly
TEACHER | Micheál O’Donnell
MATCH OFFICIAL | Shane O’Donoghue (Limerick)
