Crescent College Comprehensive SJ, Dooradoyle 2-0 Presentation College, Athenry (AET)
William Conway (66), Charlie Ormston (75)
CRESCENT COLLEGE COMPREHENSIVE SJ needed extra-time heroics to see past the wonderful Presentation College, Athenry to claim the FAI Schools First Year Boys National Cup in Frank Healy Park, Ennis this afternoon (Wednesday, May 20).
Following an hour’s enthralling action, it remained goalless to take the Cup tie to the theatrics of extra-time, and it was two world class goals that sealed victory for the Dooradoyle students during this period.
It was a game of two halves with Athenry dominating possession in the first period while Crescent College upped the intensity in the second half and enjoyed much of the goalscoring opportunities. Both sides playing some fantastic football.
Eolann Cannon and Sam D’Arcy were phenomenal in the Galway defence while Captain Cillian Walsh marshalled his troops well. While Limerick had a raft of stars including Borthwick, Conway, Kirby, Grant, and Ormston.
It was the closing stages of the first half that had the crowd entertained. A lovely freekick from Athenry starlet Henry Smith was saved comfortably by Limerick keeper Oisín O’Callaghan with four minutes remaining.
And just at the stroke of halftime, George Borthwick’s goal was chalked off for an offside! What a time it would have been to convert following a wonderful passage of play.
The teams went into the break scoreless.
The second half proved more of the same with little opportunities in front of goal as the game ended 0-0.
The extra time drama sparked to life two minutes in with Eamon Kirby’s audacious effort just sailing over the Athenry upright.
While three minutes later Jack Byrne, Athenry’s talisman saw his strike dragged inches wide of the far post!
With four minutes of the opening period left, Crescent pounced. A wonder strike from youngster William CONWAY to see the ball rifle to the top corner, an extraordinary piece of magic to see his team take the lead.
The sides could have been level just before the interval as Jack Byrne’s snapshot clipped the woodwork following good work from Cillian Walsh to set him up.
Crescent College will the slight advantage at break.
Super-sub Marcus Grant had a brilliant opportunity to wrap it up for the Munster men three minutes into the restart, but his shot cannoned off the keeper enroute to goal, how it stayed out was beyond the grasping spectator’s perspective.
With five minutes left, Crescent struck again. This time it was Charlie ORMSTON poking home from close range following George Borthwick’s initial shot hitting the butt of the post. The game ending 2-0 to the Dooradoyle institute.
Athenry’s dream of a First Year Boys and Girls Cup double shattered by the hardworking Crescent contingency.
A deserved win for the Limerick outfit as they just edged proceedings overall in a marvellous showcase from both schools.
With this Cup success, Crescent College Comprehensive has the opportunity to represent the Republic of Ireland at next year’s SAFIB Allen McKinstry Cup.
The annual three-day tournament sees the Cup winners from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland do battle.
Last season’s National Cup winners, St. Flannan’s College, Ennis came runners up when the tournament reached a conclusion last Friday in Glasgow. The 2027 edition is provisional scheduled for Belfast as Northern Ireland Schools FA host, with May 3-5 pencilled in, at the Billy Neill Sports Complex as the match venue.
CRESCENT COLLEGE COMPREHENSIVE SJ | Oisín O'Callaghan ©, Sean Kevins, James Daly, Harry Delaney, Scott Fitzgerald, Paidi Mullins, George Borthwick, William Conway, Charlie Ormston, Eamon Kirby, Harry Newman
SUBS (ROLL ON/OFF) | Elliot McCarthy, Marcus Grant, Zach Sheehy, Nelson Nzeffe, Conor Keane, Conor O’Halloran, Liam Fitzgibbon (GK)
MANAGEMENT | Fiachra O’Dwyer, Derek Robinson, Eamon Tuite
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY | Maksymilian Lukaszewski, Ciaran Kyne, Peadar Cahalan, Eolann Cannon, Sam D’Arcy, Cian McGann, Zachery Wholihan, Henry Smith, Jack Byrne, Cillian Walsh ©, Darragh Burke
SUBS (ROLL ON/OFF) | Sam Grey, Eoghan Kelly, Daniel P Ryan, Noah Brannley, John Cloonan, Zaz Lally, Luke O’Dea
EXTENDED SQUAD | Donagh Cullinane, Tom Monaghan, Harry Daly, Joe Daly, Jack Dunwoody, Morgan Murray, Conor Manion, Patrick Walsh, Ronan Kell
MANAGEMENT | David Cummins, Conor O’Dea
MATCH OFFICIAL | John McNamara
