St: Gerald’s College, Castlebar 0-1 St: Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge
Jack Reid (64)
A solidarity goal deep in the second half from Jack Reid was enough for St: Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge to claim a heroic 1/0 victory in the UMBRO FAI Schools All Ireland Minor Cup Final today against a determined St: Gerald’s College in Athlone Town FC today (April 12):
Mentor Damien Rushe who teachers in St: Joseph’s played with Athlone Town for some years, was making a welcome return to the venue as he lead Rochfortbridge out onto the field: The Westmeath contingency were well represented as the School looked to book an All Ireland soccer title to their array of sporting achievements:
Their opponents this afternoon were the impressive St: Gerald’s College, Castlebar who were managed by Tom Byrne and had International star Noe Baba captaining the side for the big occasion:
Cathal Lisibach picked up an injury prior to the final and was replaced by Castlebar’s Anthony Lawless which was the only change to the side entering the finale:
St: Joseph’s were strengthened by the return of David Etcheri who missed the All Ireland Semi Final as he picked up a one match ban following his side’s success in the Leinster Final: His absence was not noted on the day as his team celebrated a 3/1 win against a talented CBS High School from Clonmel: Mark Geoghegan provided two while Finbar Coyne sealed the deal late on for the Rochfortbridge School to progress to the All Ireland Final:
Byrne suffered heartache in the Junior Cup semi final stages at the hands of Buncrana’s Scoil Mhuire last month and was determined for his side to go one better this time around: The Minor Cup campaign was to prove the success story for Byrne and co as the story unfolded:
A James McGinty goal on 18 minutes provided the ammunition for St: Gerald’s to advance against Pobalscoil Gweedore in a very impressive display of football: The Castlebar side worked exceptional well as a unit and this ensured the advantage for Byrne’s side to move forward:
The Mayo men had a definite height advantage on the field but the “Roch” side matched their physical presence with a huge self believe to take the game to St: Gerald’s in the opening exchanges:
Captain Sean Quinn was proving handy in the Rochfortbridge defence as any effort forward from the Westerners was stamped out by his impressive reading of the game: Moran, Lawlor and Doyle were on their game ensuring the work load was shared by the back four:
St: Gerald’s Stephen McDermott and Sam Hastings were finding their feet early on and combining well but just couldn’t release the final ball to trouble versatile Joe Hyland between the sticks:
Eoin Grady and Gary Walsh were providing ample opportunity for Captain fantastic Noe Baba to impress as quality ball was drilled into him in regular supply: The young Castlebar Celtic player was on form midway through the first period as a dramatic bicycle kick attempt was foiled as the ball drifted just short of the right post:
Finbar Coyne missed an open goal on 23 minutes when Paul Walsh spirited out to clear a long ball from Sam Plant: The net minder cleared the shot as far as Coyne but the Mullingar Athletic star narrowly missed the target:
Three minutes later the action was up the field as Baba’s free kick from 30 yards out was confidently managed out of the danger area by the inform Walsh: Captain Sean Quinn fought hard to get possession back and his snap shot on the 6 yard line saw the ball sail agonising over the woodwork:
St: Joseph’s were cancelling out the oppositions efforts as Mark Geoghegan showed his frustration when his effort sliced off the right peg and across the end line:
That last of the action show Castlebar’s Matthew Ruane miss from a well directed corner kick and Baba had a 20 yard free kick drift high shortly after as the first half reached a conclusion:
Anyone’s game as the second period of the match kicked off: Neither School had a clear cut chance to register on the score sheet and it took close to 30 minutes more for Jack Reid to turn hero with an impressive goal to take the advantage to the Leinster lads:
The Doyle duo and Geoghegan combined well for the pacy Reid to chase a half chance created by his colleagues: Walsh was in no doubt that he had to attack the ball and it ended with Reid one on one with the keeper for the tiny dynamo Reid to win the race: A well executed goal from the experienced athlete that had his fellow students screaming in delight and definitely one to savour for the side:
Tom Byrne’s men were enjoying the better football prior to this and the mantle never waivered once they conceded: Castlebar definitely drove the game forward as St: Joseph’s were under the cosh for the remaining six minutes of normal time:
Nervous times for the Westmeath side but Rushe had the team well drilled and the Leinster Champions kept their composure defending some impressive set pieces from Castlebar:
Etcheri was man marking target man Noe Baba up front and kept the young star at bay for most of the game:
There was occasion for Baba to snatch an equaliser three minutes later but Ciaran Doyle tracked back for a momentous block on a goal bound effort:
Even the resulting corner kick was inch perfect for Baba to get his head on but unfortunately the ball couldn’t be directed on target which was agonising for his fellow supporters who cheered their team on:
Castlebar did create the chances late on as James McGinty sliced the ball over the far post and Hastings was unlucky not to do better from close range:
Rochfortbridge’s centre back was outstanding throughout the campaign as was Hyland, Doyle, Reid and Geoghegan but a team effort was the winning ingredient for Rushe’s side to claim a historic All Ireland soccer title for the School:
It was heartache for St: Gerald’s after a gallant display that well warranted an All Ireland appearance and on another day it could have been a different story for the Mayo men but St: Joseph’s took the chances awarded to them and deserved the momentous win:
Next on the horizon for the All Ireland Champions, St: Joseph’s Secondary School will be a Metropolitan Leinster League Final: But more importantly is the opportunity to represent FAI Schools in a five nation tournament organised by the Schools Association Football International Board (SAFIB) after winning the prestigious Minor Cup:
The SAFIB Schools Cup as it is more commonly known by will see representative schools from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete in the 3/day tournament which will be hosted by the Welsh Schools Association as they celebrate their Centenary this year: The competition will kick off in Cardiff on Friday May, 27: FAI Schools wish the team and management the very best of luck as they participate in the event:
St: Gerald’s College: Paul Walsh, Rhyne Collins, Jarleth O’Malley, Matthew Ruane, Sean Keaney, Noe Baba (Capt), Eoin Grady, Gary Walsh, James McGinty, Stephen McDermott, Sam Hastings
Subs: Anthony Lawless, Darragh Coll, Mark McDonnell, Dylan Ralph, Alex Campbell
Teacher: Tom Byrne
St: Joseph’s SS, Rochfortbridge: Joe Hyland, Cathal Moran, Peter Lawlor, Sean Quinn (Capt), Killian Doyle, Sam Plant, Finbar Coyne, David Etcheri, Ciaran Doyle, Jack Reid, Mark Geoghegan
Subs: Siya Nxumalo, Evan Toner, Ian Kilcoyne, Kaelan Hickey, Bobby Gonoud, Jack Murphy, Tony Loftus, Kieran McManus, Jason Palmer, Dominic Judge
Teacher:Damien Rushe, Assistant: Richard Harris (TY Student)
Referee: Aidan Sherlock (Roscommon)