FAI Schools Tom Ticher National Junior Cup Semi Final (Under 17, Large Schools)
Thursday, March 23, 2023
St. Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy 3-0 St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny
Colin Ivers (3), Darragh Harris (26 pen), Ryan Donohoe (57)
ENNISCORTHY OUTFIT ST. MARY’S CBS saw off the kingpins of Ulster, St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny in an exciting and highly dramatic encounter in Oriel Park, Dundalk this afternoon (Thursday, March 23).
Both sides played exceptional football with some brilliant intricate play on show but ultimately the Enniscorthy defence held firm with three clinical goals at opportunistic periods in the game proving decisive.
Enniscorthy got the perfect start to proceedings when Colin IVERS sliced through the Eunan’s rear-guard to slot past Calum Crampsie with only three minutes on the clock.
St. Eunan’s responded minutes later with a cracking effort courtesy of Oisin Harkin as the ball smashed off the woodwork.
The Letterkenny number one, Calum Crampsie was called in action midway through the first half as he pulled off a sensational save to deny a Jack Byrne special from distance.
Then a body blow for the Ulster side as Enniscorthy doubled their tally minutes later. Darragh HARRIS converting from the penalty spot to make it 2-0.
The Wexford scholars were close to grabbing a third just before the interval when a well worked corner fell nicely for Robert Cahill. His glancing header rocketing off the crossbar and over.
St. Mary’s went in two up at the break.
Eunan’s had attempts from Luca Barrett and Sean Patton early in the second half and were always dangerous on the counter attack.
Enniscorthy practically closed out the game inside the hour mark when Ryan DONOHOE converted their third with a neat finish from close range to see some distance between the sides.
Letterkenny drove forward at every opportunity and were causing concern but Brennan O’Neill and Shayne McDonald blocked any real threat forward.
Brian Desmond was only on the park three minutes when he made a pacy run down the right wing, producing a lovely through ball for Sean Patton to run onto. The young striker shot twice in quick succession but Eamonn Asple expertly
saved on both occasions to keep his clean sheet.
Enniscorthy grew in confidence in the latter stages with their defenders making massive last ditch tackles to keep Eunan’s at bay in the final third. A frustrating afternoon for the Donegal school but one that they can be very proud of as it was
end to end action for the full eighty minutes.
St. Mary’s CBS will be relieved to come through that crunch encounter. The victory will see them face Rice College, Westport in this season’s title decider.
Enniscorthy last won this competition back in 2018 defeating St. Joseph’s College, Galway in Home Farm FC that afternoon. A solitary goal from Kieran MURPHY on thirty-five minutes was enough to see them clinch glory. They face another
Connacht side and they’ll be hoping that the lessons they learned this afternoon will stand them in good stead for the challenge of Rice College.
The FAI Schools Tom Ticher Junior National Cup Final is scheduled for after the Easter Break, on Wednesday, April 19 (1.0). Venue to be confirmed.
ST. MARY’S CBS, ENNISCORTHY | Eamonn Asple, Brian Ivers, Shayne McDonald, Brennan O’Neill, Robert Cahill, Jack Byrne, Jamie Pepper ©, Ryan Donohoe, Lucas Fitzpatrick, Darragh Harris, Colin Ivers
SUBS | Charlie Donnelly, Robbie Breen, Shane Reddy, Johnny Rossiter, John Millar
TEACHERS | Lisa Burke, Shane Murphy
ST. EUNAN’S COLLEGE, LETTERKENNY | Calum Crampsie, Caolan Monaghan, Troy Preston, Adam Bonner, Jack Keys, Adam McDaid, Fintan Hasson, Luca Barrett ©, Sean Patton, Oisin Harkin, Shay Maloney
SUBS | Brian Desmond for Monaghan (58), DJ McAuley for Barrett (69), Kelvin Anderson, Daire Hume, Andrew Nicholls
TEACHERS | Kevin Murphy, Shane McBrearty ASSISTANT | Ultan McMonagle
MATCH OFFICIAL| Brendan Doyle (Louth)
