23 January 2012
St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin 5-0 St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh
Daniel Matthews (27), Marco Chindea (55), John Harcourt (57), Dylan McKeever (63, 75)
ST. KEVIN’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE were crowned the kings of Leinster schools soccer after an emphatic 5-0 success over Clonskeagh’s St. Kilian’s Deutsche Schule Dublin in the impressive surrounds of Leixlip Amenities Centre on Friday last (January 20).
The Kevin’s lads secured their spot in the Leinster Cup Final following a difficult encounter with O’Fiaich College of Dundalk. The Clondalkin side managed an impressive 2-1 victory in ALSAA seven days previously. Clonskeagh’s path to the final came courtesy of a win over Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown on the same score-line
The Clondalkin School are traditionally one of the heavyweights at senior level in particular, having secured double celebrations last year winning the U19 Division 3 and U16 Division 3 Metropolitan League titles in fine style.
However, the team failed to secure an incredible treble as they suffered a major blow in the same Cup competition last season at the hands of Greenhill’s College.
Following their bitter 2-1 defeat to a well drilled Walkinstown outfit last season, a game many thought Kevin’s should have won, the Clondalkin lads picked themselves up and ensured the tables were turned this time around.
I’m sure as proceedings kicked off in Leixlip last year’s defeat was playing on the minds of mentors Sheridan and Smith as they commenced battle with Al Sugg’s crew.
Kevin’s would definitely not underestimate the sporting ability of their opponents. The achievements of the St. Kilian’s students on the soccer pitch are no less notable. The boys have four Leinster Senior “B” Cup titles to their name and have finished runners-up on three other occasions. They went one step further in 2007 when they won the All Ireland title. They have also enjoyed great success in the leagues, with the most recent honour (U16 Metropolitan League) arriving in 2010.
The game was scoreless for the opening 27 minutes, during which time St. Kilian’s were enjoying the majority of the possession with some well executed passing around midfield. During this purple patch the Clonskeagh students only produced one worthwhile effort, with Jessie Kamm breaking through from midfield only for his effort to be well blocked by the St. Kevin’s keeper, Stephen Kavanagh.
It was Kevin’s Captain, Dan Matthews, who missed last year’s Final due to a dislocated knee; that grabbed the first goal of the game. It came from a corner on the right and after a bit of pinball in the box, Matthews was on hand to stick the ball into the corner of the net.
Despite having the majority of the play after their goal, Kevin’s barely tested Allesandro Del Gener between the Kilian’s sticks for the remainder of the first half.
Kilian’s came out of the interval looking the more eager and pressed hard for the all important equaliser early on to take the game to their crafty opponents.
However it was St. Kevin’s who then started creating all the chances and in the 55th minute, a long kick out from Kavanagh was headed on from midfield into the path of Marc Chindea. The youngster out muscled the Kilian’s defender and slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
From the restart the Clondalkin side won the ball back and fifteen year old Dylan McKeever took a shot from outside the box which the keeper did well to save. However the ball broke into the path of John Harcourt who made no mistake despite the best efforts of Del Gener in goal.
St. Kilian’s Brian McCann had a goal bound free kick blocked down by a brave Aaron Bailie. If successful this may have given the Kilian’s side a lifeline back into the game.
However it was St. Kevin’s who were gaining the momentum and looked extremely dangerous going forward. Moments later they had the ball in the back of the net again, when McKeever beat the offside trap and latched onto a through ball from right winger Chindea. McKeever tucked his shot away, in off the right post. It was McKeever who finished off the scoring when he got his second of the afternoon, and St. Kevin’s fifth, with a well taken goal on 75 minutes. The young star was substituted immediately following his goal scoring spree to the rapturous applause of the Clondalkin supporters.
Substitute Luke Byrne had two good chances after good work from Dylan Byrne on both occasions, but he was unable to convert.
One has to ask if the Kevin’s performance benefited from the players sporting a newly designed haircut on the day. The aptly shaped K was a definite talking point among the large contingency of Clondalkin supporters. This lucky trait may have to be repeated in the All Ireland series as it brought about an excellent team performance against St. Kilian’s.
Fintan Sheridan’s side will now await the winners of the Ulster Cup qualifier which sees Finn Valley College, Stranorlar take on St. Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff in the other provincial decider on Thursday next (January 26). The winners will then progress to the All Ireland Semi Final series with the eagerly awaited St. Kevin’s doing battle on Tuesday, February 7.
ST. KEVINS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CLONDALKIN: Stephen Kavanagh, Aaron Bailie, Amine Djimani, Daniel Matthews (Capt), Dylan Smith, Lee Higgins, Christopher Ward, Marco Chindea, Dylan Byrne, Dylan McKeever, John Harcourt
SUBS: Nathan Browne, Bradley Foley, Jason Byrne, Ian Greene, Nazim Djimani, Paul McMahon, Luke Byrne, Daniel Condron, Razcan Neculai
TEACHERS: Fintan Sheridan and Ciaran Smith
ST. KILIAN’S DSD, CLONSKEAGH: Allesandro Del Gener, Josh Knipschild, Noah Sandys, Brian McCann, Alvaro Garcia, Keanu Fischell ( Capt ), Stuart Gourlay, Nika Arevadze, Edward McDonagh, Jessie, Kamm, Niall Carruthers.
SUBS: David Kane ( S Gourlay ), Viktor Ivanov ( N Carruthers ), Eoin Kavanagh ( N Sandys ), Greg Van Cutsem, Shane Hudson, Kristian Leonard, Moritz Welz
TEACHERS: Albert Sugg and Alistair Harvey
REFEREE: Brian Lawless (Dublin)
