St: Gerald’s College, Castlebar 4-1 Presentation College, Headford
Jan Wicher (16) Jonathan Walsh (39, 84) Colm Nevin (54) Alan Meeneghan (49)
St: Gerald’s College, Castlebar captured the Connacht Junior soccer title for the first time after winning an action/packed final at Terryland Park, Galway on Friday (March 11):
It was, as winning captain Stephen Walsh observed afterwards, “not a great day for football”, but spectators from both sides made themselves heard – there was even a vuvuzela on show: Gerald’s made the early running, and both Colm Nevin and Jonathan Walsh went close:
At the other end, Headford’s Ross Mellett drew a good save from Conor Tuohy following a good run by Kevin Moylan:
The opening goal came after 16 minutes: Jan Wicher, St: Gerald’s German exchange student, cut in along the left wing and fired home just inside the near post: ‘The Green and Red of Mayo’ rang out around the home of Galway United, but Headford went close soon after, as Alan Meeneghan’s free kick got past the wall and struck the crossbar:
It was still nip and tuck: Noe Baba had a few pops from distance for St: Gerald’s, while Headford had a penalty appeal turned down:
On the stroke of half time, Colm Nevin found Pat Durcan, whose cross from the right was sweetly headed home by Jonathan Walsh:
Headford’s Ross Mellett went close with an injury time free kick which took a wicked bounce, but Gerald’s goalkeeper Stephen Lawless touched the ball onto the post:
It was 2-0 at the break then, but that became 2/1 nine minutes within the restart: Richard Fahey pressed forward, and Alan Meeneghan was on hand to score, prompting Keano/esque cries of ‘Meeno! Meeno!’ from fans of the border school
Within five minutes, however, they were – as their Gerald’s counterparts noted – not singing anymore, thanks to the best goal of the day: It was a 30/yard cracker from Colm Nevin, who got on the end of a move that started out on the left: The Castlebar boys celebrated – rather too vigorously, as a quick kick/off caught some of them napping, and Headford had a shout for a penalty rejected before the attack petered out:
Ross Mellett had two near misses soon after – Conor Tuohy got a strong hand to the first, while the second was just wide: But Headford’s Ciaran Kerin was red carded with 15 minutes left, and it seemed like the fat lady was singing: Gerald’s fans certainly were – “Oh Castlebar is wonderful” their ditty of choice – and Jonathan Walsh got his second goal in injury time, pouncing on a loose ball in the box:
In his acceptance speech, Stephen Walsh thanked Tom Byrne – “a great trainer” who “always kept us going” and “never let us give up”: They did him proud last Friday:
ST GERALD’S COLLEGE: C Tuohy, P Durcan, R Carolan, M McHugh, S Walsh, N Baba, J Gannon, C Nevin, M Mongan, J Walsh, J Wicher:
Subs: J Durcan for Wicher (51 mins, inj); S O’Donnell, J Lydon, M Howley, N Gibbons:
Teacher: Tom Byrne
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, HEADFORD: S Lawless, C Tuffy, C Canty, C Keady, K Moylan, S Mullin, R Mellett, S Hennelly, A Meeneghan, C Kerin, R Fahey:
Subs: S Dillon for Tuffy (49 mins), M Nalty for Moylan (76 mins), S Monaghan for Mellett (80 mins, inj), S Varley, C Casserly:
Teacher: Brendan O’Mahoney
REFEREE: V Carew