Dalton swoops as Presentation edge Carrigaline to claim Munster crown

FAI Munster Senior Cup: Carrigaline CS 0 Presentation College 1: A first-half David Dalton header was enough for Presentation Brothers College to claim the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill Munster Senior Cup against Carrigaline Community School at O’Shea Park, Blarney last night.

PBC had their goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to thank for the win, however, as Carrigaline dominated the second half but couldn’t find a way past the inspired Kelleher.

PBC started the better of the two sides on the excellent O’Shea Park surface, and David Grant O’Sullivan went close early on but his free-kick flew narrowly over Andrew Kingston’s crossbar.

They hit the front in the 14th minute when Bryan Cotter headed Grant O’Sullivan’s corner kick off the crossbar and Dalton was alert to head home the rebound.

Carrigaline’s Brian Coakley was close to an equaliser 10 minutes later but his header from Adam Brooks’ free-kick was inches wide.

The same player had an even better chance just before half-time but headed wide from a Caleb O’Connell cross.

Carrigaline started the second half as they had finished the first, and Coakley had the best chance of all to equalise in the 58th minute but his shot from eight yards was brilliantly stopped by Kelleher.

It was all Carrigaline now, and Ryan McCarthy’s header came back off the bar before Kelleher was again equal to Coakley’s effort a few seconds later.

There was a flurry of red cards late on as PBC’S Bryan Cotter and Brian Mulcahy received their marching orders, with Carrigaline’s Mark Lenihan also seeing red as PBC held on for a hard-earned victory.

CARRIGALINE CS: Kingston, O Buckley, D Buckley, Khadi, Lenihan, O’Connell, Brooks, Howard (Connolly 56) Coakley, Fitzgerald, McCarthy (Coleman 75).

PBC: Kelleher, Davis, O’Brien, Mulcahy, Maguire, O’Leary, Creedon, Grant O’Sullivan, Cotter, Barry, Dalton.

Referee: T Tully (Cork).