St Paul's CC come from behind to claim U19 Munster Senior Cup title

COMEBACK: St. Paul's Community college, Waterford players celebrate after coming from behind to claim U19 Senior Cup title. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

U19 Munster Senior Cup final: St Paul’s Community College (Waterford) 3 Tralee CBS  2

St Paul’s Community College have been crowned Dr Tony O’Neill U19 Munster Senior Cup champions after the Waterford school came from two goals down to complete an inspiring turnaround against CBS Tralee in Cobh.

A double from Tommy Mullally and an extra time winner by midfielder Josh O’Neill Nolan secured a first U19 Senior Cup win since 1991, and second ever.

They had to do things the hard way though. Tralee CBS captain Andrew Kerins, who scored both goals in their 2-0 semi-final triumph over Presentation Brothers College, scored again early in this final to set the pace. Impact sub Edison Jahiri doubled the Tralee lads lead with 17 minutes of normal time to play when he took advantage of St Paul’s keeper Adam Hearne’s error to slot into an empty net.

Few saw a St Paul’s comeback at that point in time but the Waterford lads still had some fight left in them. Josh O’Neill Nolan was chopped down in the area giving Tommy Mullally the chance to pull one back on 73 minutes, which he did in style from the spot.

And in a flash it was 2-2 thanks again to Mullally whose magnificent curling free kick beat Eoin Mangan in The Green goal with ten minutes to spare. Elation for the Paul’s travelling contingent but there was a ways to go yet.

In extra time there were tired legs but plenty more drama to unfold. Having already won the penalty for St Pauls that got this incredible comeback underway, O’Neill Nolan danced around a couple of Tralee defenders before slotting it calmly past keeper Eoin Mangan to take the spoils and, more importantly, the silverware.

All-in-all it was a cracking contest at St Colman’s Park with chances a plenty. Five minutes after Kerins’ opener, The Green’s Jack Power found Robert Keane completely free at the back post but the midfielder's header bounced across the face of the goal and wide, agonisingly close.

The Green’s Ryan Driscoll struck one from range, it left Hearne rooted but crashed off the post.

Dangerous on the counter, Tralee were putting St Paul's hearts in mouths again when Keane was put through one on one but man of the match contender Hearne came off his line to claim.

The Tralee school were rock solid defensively and dominated first half proceedings especially when going forward but St Paul's had their own share of the chances. Perhaps their best chance came on 37 minutes when rapid winger Fortune Daniels met a cross in the six yard box but his first time side footed shot flew over.

A couple of minutes later, The Green found themselves in some difficulty from a corner when the ball fell at the feet of O’Neill Nolan whose shot was well saved by Eoin Mangan. St Paul’s were seeing much more of the ball and the chances towards the end of the first half and continued that trajectory into the second.

Substitute Jahiri was a danger as soon as he entered the field of play having a couple of big chances saved by Hearne. Eventually though things went his way when Hearne palmed a ball into his path from a looping cross for which the forward was happy to tap home for The Green’s second.

Then the unexpected happened. Having put four past semi final opponents Glanmire it was clear this St Paul’s side had goals in them. Mullally struck from the spot and with equal poise and accuracy, Mullally stepped up again, this time to take a free kick from 25 yards out. He curled it around the wall and into the bottom left corner to level it with ten minutes of normal time to play.

O’Neill Nolan used trickery and finesse to find the net with three minutes of first half extra time to play. And that was that. The comeback complete.

ST PAUL’S: A Hearne; P Kiely, B Keoghan, G Mithcell, A Dobbyn; H Swift (J Croke, 112), M Murphy, T Mullally; S Cooke, J O’Neill Nolan, F Daniels.

Yellow cards: A Dobbyn.

TRALEE CBS: E Mangan; J Power (D Moore, 74), J Daly, P McMahon, J Deady; E Ballard (M Corridan, 98), R Keane, R Driscoll; A Kerins (C) (C McKenna, 74), J Slattery, T O’Connor (E Jahiri, HT).

Yellow cards: E Ballard, R Driscoll.

Referee: Tom McCarthy.