25 January 2012
Gavin Earley
Malahide Community School 1-0 Clonkeen College, Blackrock
Mark Brennan
TEN-MAN Malahide Community School are Umbro FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Leinster champions for 2012 after a 1-0 win over Clonkeen College, Blackrock in today’s final (January 25).
A first-half goal from Mark Brennan was enough to give Malahide victory, despite the second-half dismissal of defender Glen Daly at the South Dublin Football League Complex.
The final was set for a mouth watering tie as both sides went into the game in ominous form, with Malahide brushing aside St Joseph’s in the semi-finals (3-1) and Clonkeen putting four past Coláiste Chiarain on their way to the final (4-0).
The Blackrock outfit had two schools International lining out with Ryan Matthews and Paul Moffat togging out. The duo will appear on Friday’s Friendly against Australia as the Republic of Ireland Schools team kick off their season in the Oscar Traynor Centre (KO 2pm). The inclusion of Matthews was a major boost for Andrew McBride’s side as the youngster recently returned from injury.
The Blackrock School had the opening chance of the game, with Ben McEntee firing a snapshot over the bar from the edge of the area on two minutes.
Malahide responded with chances for strike duo Conor Mullarkey and Dylan Cashin inside the opening 10 minutes, before Brennan opened the scoring by surprising goalkeeper Aidan Quinn with a disguised lob from distance.
Cashin went close later in the half as Malahide looked to be comfortable but McEntee struck the post with a close-range effort after Ryan Matthews nodded a free kick into his path.
The second period got off to an explosive start with Daly’s sending off Kevin Dunne was forced to save from McEntee seconds later as the striker broke free on goal.
Despite a header from Stephen Byrne just missing the target for Clonkeen, Malahide began to pass their way back into a position of control and Mullarkey almost sealed the win late on when he saw his five-yard shot saved by Quinn.
O’Sullivan and Tierney will be anxiously awaiting their All Ireland semi final opposition as Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana face PCC Falcarragh in the Ulster qualifiers in the coming weeks. Their All Ireland semi final is fixed for March 6 which will be a double header with the Senior Girls Cup.
MALAHIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Kevin Dunne; Jacob Ferguson, Colm Curtis, Glen Daly, Ciaran Callaghan, Mark Brennan, Eric Harold (John Walsh 77), Shane Woods, Dylan Cashin (Dylan McNulty 54), Conor Mullarkey, Ciaran McGahan.
Not used: Gavin O’Shaughnessy, Fionn Cahill, Brian Heffernan.
Teachers: Michael O’Sullivan and Stephen Tierney
CLONKEEN COLLEGE, BLACKROCK: Aidan Quinn; Daniel Flynn Fallon (Scott Maloney 75), Stephen Byrne, Jamie Costello, Ryan Matthews, Brian Allen, Ray Dunne, Stephen Mooney, Ben McEntee, Paul Moffatt, Mark O’Grady.
Not used: Neil Costello, Shane Whelan, Shaun De Wyspelaere, Lee Higgins.
Teacher: Andrew McBride
REFEREE: John Clarke.
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