Super keeper Walsh the saviour as CBC win FAI Schools National Cup final on penalties
LUCK OF THE BOUNCE: David McLaughlin of Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Galway, in action against Emmet Coughlan of Christian Brothers College. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Christian Brothers College Cork have been crowned FAI Schools Senior National Cup Champions after beating Coláiste Bhaile Chláir in a tense penalty shootout in Tralee, on Thursday afternoon. Harry Walsh pulled off some goalkeeping heroics to give the Cork lads the spoils after the 120 minutes wasn't enough to seperate the two teams.
Calum Carroll kept his cool in scoring the winning penalty, after Finn Dalton, Donal O’Connor and Max Murphy all converted calmly before him. Walsh did his duty, standing tall to deny the Claregalway School on two occasions.
On the hottest day of the year so far, both sides wasted several scoring opportunities in the first period. David McLaughlin, Jack Kelly and Kalen Ainsworthy threatened for the Galway men, whilst Conor Burke came close to breaking the deadlock for CBC on a couple of occasions.
CBC eventually scored midway through the second half after a sustained spell of pressure saw the Cork side finally break down the strong Bhaile Chláir defence. Tom Hickey’s goal-bound effort was deflected into the path of Aidan O’Shea coming off the right wing, and the substitute, fired into the roof of the net to give his side the lead.
Coláiste Bhaile Chláir looked a bit shaky after going behind, and would welcome the second water break of the game on the seventieth minute to regroup and begin their push for an equaliser. And on the resumption of play, they got just that.
A long free kick into the box was headed backwards by a CBC centre-half, which took his keeper out of the equation, leaving Cathal Heavey the simple task of slotting into an empty net.
Five minutes into extra time, CBC were reduced to ten men when goalscorer Aidan O’Shea picked up a second yellow for a barge on the keeper.
Both sides had chances to win it. Liam Lynch forced O’Gorman into a big save minutes after coming on, whilst at the other end , McLaughlin saw his left-footed shot come back off the butt of the post, so the game had to be decided on penalties.
Both captains were first to step up to the spot. Jack Kelly netted his for Bhaile Chláir, whilst Finn Dalton made no mistake for CBC. Next up for Claregalway was Ruairi Flaherty, who saw his left-footed attempt saved by Walsh to give CBC the advantage.
Donal O’Connor, David McLaughlin, and Max Murphy all scored before Daniel Murphy took what would be Bhaile Chláir’s last penalty as his tame effort was saved down the middle, leaving Calum Carroll the chance to become the hero, which he took, smashing home as the jubilant celebrations began from the travelling CBC fans.
C Greene, M Casey, R Flaherty, D Killian, D Murphy, M Bradbury, J Kelly - captain, D Rabbitte, D McLoughlin, C Heavey, K Ainsworth.
E McDonagh for Heavey (86), A O’Gorman for Greene (110).
H Walsh; E Coughlan, L Butler, M Murphy, B Phillips; F Dalton, L Lynch; D Morley, C Burke, T Hickey; D O’Connor.
A O’Shea for Morley (56), S Kavanagh for Hickey (75), D Callanan for Burke (96), C Carroll for Philips (103).
Darren O’Rourke.
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