Coláiste Bhaile Chláir 4-2 St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar
David McLoughlin (83, 92) Michael Bradbury (106) Kalen Ainsworth (108) Cian Thompson (5) Calum Long (97)
COLÁISTE BHAILE CHLÁIR came from behind to claim a dramatic extra-time win over St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar in Gurteen Celtic FC, Sligo on Tuesday afternoon (March 3).
The Stranorlar crew struck early and led for most of the match until Claregalway talisman’s David McLoughlin netted the equaliser seven minutes from time!
The game ended one all after 90 exhilarating minutes, but the drama continued in extra-time with both sides netting a goal apiece in the first ten minutes while the Connacht Champions added a further two late on to see the contest out of Donegal reach.
St. Columba’s scholar Cian THOMPSON gave the Donegal lads the dream start when he pounced on a defensive error to slot home five minutes in.
The Stranorlar side set up very defensively throughout the game, hoping to get their opponents on the counterattack.
The Donegal tally could have been doubled with 24 minutes on the clock, when another defensive lapse allowed Caolan Burns a gilt-edged opportunity, but the ball dragged past the far post.
With five minutes of the first period remaining, Ryan McConnell pulled off a magnificent save to deny the talented David McLoughlin as Oisin McMenamin’s men went into the break with that vital one goal cushion.
Claregalway’s Jack Kelly was unlucky not to equalise close to the hour mark as his strike was inches wide of the mark.
It wasn’t until the 83rd minute that Conor Tivnan’s charges levelled proceeding with David McLOUGHLIN converting a stunning goal that eventually ensured extra-time!
McLOUGHLIN scored a second two minutes into the restart with a sublime effort while five minutes later Callum LONG equalised for St. Columba’s with an awesome effort that deceived the keeper.
The sides were level again 2-2 at the break.
With four minutes of the game remaining, Claregalway orchestrated the victory with a powerful shot on target from Michael BRADBURY while Kalen AINSWORTH netted a fourth two minutes later with a super finish.
A breathtaking contest with some extraordinary goals to keep the game alive with nearly two hours of action.
Coláiste Bhaile Chláir will now meet Christian Brothers College, Cork in this season’s FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup Final on Thursday, March 19 with the venue to be confirmed (1.0).
The Cork side defeated Wexford CBS 3-2 in Evergreen AFC, Kilkenny yesterday afternoon in another dramatic showdown.
COLÁISTE BHAILE CHLÁIR | Charlie Greene, Matthew Casey, Ruairí Flaherty, Darragh Killian, Daniel Murphy, Michael Bradbury, Jack Kelly ©, Dylan Rabbitte, David McLoughlin, Kalen Ainsworth
SUBS USED | Evan McDonagh for McLoughlin (106),
SUBS NOT USED | Lewis Carr, Cian Meehan, Brian McHugh, Eoghan Parker, Cathal Heavey, Aaron O’Gorman
EXTENDED SQUAD | Josh Hanley, Aaron Wall
TEACHERS | Conor Tivnan, Liam Hayes
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ST. COLUMBA’S COLLEGE, STRANORLAR | Ryan McConnell, Finn Hennigan, Diarmuid Reid, Declan Patton ©, Peter Sweeney, Jack McNally, Callum Long, Niall McBreaty, Cian Thompson, Hack Byrne, Caolan Burns
SUBS USED | Aaron McGowan for Thompson (55), Ronan McHugh for Reid (65), Luca Vance for McBrearty (91), Darragh Lynch for Hennigan (93), Jamie Gallagher for Burns (104)
SUBS NOT USED | Darragh Lynch, Noah Boyle, Lorcan Byrne
EXTENDED SQUAD | Matthew Callen, Liam Callen
TEACHERS | Oísin McMenamin, James Atcheson
MATCH OFFICIAL | John Barry (Sligo)
