UMRBO FAI Schools Junior Boys All Ireland Final
St. Kiernan’s College, Kilkenny 2-1 Carndonagh Community School
John Power 40, 71 Ronan Doherty31
St. Kieran’s College of Kilkenny collected their first-ever FAI Umbro Schools Junior Boys National title yesterday (Thursday, 7May) as they battled back to beat Carndonagh Community School in an action-packed final at Oriel Park, Dundalk.
Striker John Power was the match-winner for the Cats, notching a goal in either half, but Carndonagh pushed the champions all the way and were inches away from forcing extra time late on as Jason Quan produced a heroic goal-line clearance in stoppage time to prevent the equaliser.
Power was a menace to the Donegal defence, carving out three chances in the opening 20 minutes that goalkeeper Martin McLaughlin did well to save.
Seamus Doherty, at the other end, was in lively form and flashed a shot high and wide of the far post during the early exchanges.
Irish Under-15 International Mikey Drennan was narrowly off-target with his free-kick for the Kilkenny crew midway through the half but it was from another set-piece that the opening goal was sourced on 31 minutes.
Ronan Doherty of Carndonagh floated a free-kick from just inside the opponent’s half into the box and the breeze helped it sweep past goalkeeper Craig Cummins.
The Saints hit back on the stroke of the break through Power – his low from the edge of the area finding the bottom corner after Sam Johnston split the defence with the pass.
Opportunities were not so plentiful after the restart until ten minutes from the end when the action intensified.
Cummins was at his best to keep out another Doherty free-kick and, in the opposite half, Drennan and Power’s attacking partnership was beginning to click.
Power broke free in the box with nine minutes left, evading the challenge of two defenders, before tucking an effort beneath McLaughlin for the lead goal.
The striker was denied his hat-trick by the post in the last minute but Carndonagh ensured there was a nervy ending to the game as they constantly attacked during the eight minutes of injury time.
And Daniel McDaid thought he had levelled for the Northerners at the death when he prodded the ball beyond the advancing goalkeeper but Jason Quan raced back and slid along the goal-line to prevent the ball going in.
ST. KIERAN’S COLLEGE: Craig Cummins; Stephen Chappell, Sam Johnston, Robert Hayes, Jason Quan, Luke Hickey, Tim Kiely-Brennan, Sean Lowry (Thomas O’Hanrahan 70), Declan McQuillan; Mickey Drennan, John Power.
Subs: Kevin Dunlan, Jason Nugent, Stephen Thompson, Eoghan Connolly
Teachers: Don O’Connor & Paul Fitzgerald
CARNDONAGH CS: Martin McLaughlin; Martin Shiels, Pat Doherty, Conor Burke, Christy Smith; Ryan McLaughlin, Conor Keddy, Ronan Doherty, Jamie Coyle (Brendan McLaughlin 50); Daniel McDaid, Seamus Doherty.
Subs: Liam Barkley, Sean Gill, James Griffin, Stephen Friel, Evan Doherty, Ryan Kelly.
Management: Pat McGonagle.