CBS Clonmel crowned All Ireland Champions
UMBRO FAI Schools First Year Boys National Final
CBS High School, Clonmel 2-1 St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny
Clonmel played out a nervous final quarter to secure the silverware in Oriel Park, Dundalk today (21 May) to claim the All Ireland First Year Boys title.
The score line didn’t reflect the tense thriller played out among a large contingency of travelling supporters. The match looked like going into extra time as the Ulster lads were pressing hard for an equaliser with twenty minutes remaining.
It was CBS who enjoyed the early exchanges. The Clonmel natives were very confident on the ball and within ten minutes they registered their first of the afternoon, a beautiful header from Andrew Hill.
St. Eunan’s responded almost immediately with a powerful strike from David Gorman, unfortunately rising too high to register.
The Donegal men applied the pressure and their hard work was rewarded with a corner in the twenty minute. McDaid’s delivery into the box was met by the ever present Liam Bonner. His snap shot deserved better but the flexibility of Ross Malcahy in goal must also be rewarded. He pulled off a marvellous one handed save to deny an equaliser.
Clonmel got their second of the afternoon against the run of play. With half an hour played, the Tipperary side were awarded a throw in from 15 yards out. Luke Boland fed the on running Shane Crowley. His instinctive pass to Kevin Fahy was brilliant. Fahy rounded the central defender to deliver a low ball to the bottom left corner leaving Shane Patton with no chance.
Ollie Horgan made a few changes at half time which saw the introduction of Sean Patton for Shortt and Carr for McNulty.
St. Eunan’s were looking more composed in midfield and Rory McConnell gave them a lifeline as he headed in on 52 minutes to make it 2-1. The momentum was now building for Ollie Horgan’s side.
CBS defended well for much of the second half and were lucky not to concede on a number of occasions. Credit must go to Steven Kelly and Dominic Walsh who were very strong in defence.
St. Eunan’s were creating ample opportunities but unfortunately were wide of the mark in the final minutes of injury time. CBS High School hung on to a well deserved victory – a first in the history of the School. A proud moment for mentors Darius Delahunty & David Dineen
ST EUNAN’S COLLEGE, LETTERKENNY: S Patton, P O’Lean, G McNulty, S Hume, T Grant, R McConnell, L Bonnar, D Gorman, C McDaid, B Shortt, D McDaid
Subs: W McGinley, J Blaney, O Carr, S Patton, J McBride
Management team: Ollie Horgan, Tiernan Bonner
CBS HIGH SCHOOL, CLONMEL: Ross Mulcahy, Luke Boland, Dominic Walsh, Steven Kelly, Steven Carey, Michael Maher, Shane Crowley (Capt), Michael Connolly, Kevin Fahy, Tom Kirwan, Andrew Hill
Subs: Corey Russell, Brian Mangan, Padraig Power, Dale O’Donnell, Kevin McMahon
Management team: Darius Delahunty & David Dineen