Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair 2/1 Castleblaney College
Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair will represent the county in the Umbro FAI Schools All/Ireland semi/final after their fine win in the Ulster final against Monaghan's Castleblaney College, at Ballyshannon's Lakeside Centre on Tuesday, 9 February:
The side managed by Emmet MacAoidh will now face the Leinster champions Colaíste de hIde, Tallaght, in Monaghan: MacAoidh will be hoping that his team can produce the same sort of form that brought them the Ulster title:
Having fallen behind as early as the 10th minute after a defensive mix/up, Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair clawed their way back into the contest:
In a game with an edge of physicality, Anthony Blair levelled on the half/hour mark when he stabbed home a rebound when Kevin McDermott in the Castleblaney goal saved from Odhran McNelis's original pop:
Then, three minutes into the second half, Matthew Harkin put the finishing touch on a pass from Hugh Sweeney to give Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair the lead: It was almost three late on when McNelis rammed a free/kick that might well have been a penalty, off the crossbar after Caoilte Boyle was fouled: In the end, though, it proved irrelevant as victory was not to be denied:
Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair: Danny McGarvey; Martin Curran, Mike Roarty, Lorcan Gallagher, Sean Doherty; Anthony Blair, Caoilte Boyle, Jamie Reynolds, Hugh Sweeney, Matthew Harkin, Odhran McNelis:
Castleblaney College: Kevin McDermott; Anthony Mulligan, Paddy McGuigan, Cillian Coleman, Jason McElroy; Ryan McGuinness, Gavin Connolly, Ryan Castles, Mark Gleeson; Philip Donnelly, Donal Carthy:
Referee: Liam Farren: