Soccer

Coláiste Eanna lift their first ever FAI Senior Cup

Rathfarnham school edge out St Joseph’s College, Galway in dramatic penalty shoot-out

Wed Mar 11 2015 - 19:15

Coláiste Eanna CBS, Rathfarnham 3 St Joseph's College, Galway 3
(After extra-time, Coláiste Eanna won 4-3 on pens)

Coláiste Eanna CBS from Rathfarnham lifted their first ever FAI Schools Dr Tony O'Neill Senior Cup with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory in Wednesday's final at Athlone IT.

After a rousing decider which produced five of the game’s six goals in the first 35 minutes, St Joseph’s looked poised to bridge a six-year gap since their last national title as they had two attempts left to win the penalty shoot-out.

However, they angled the first wide and had the second saved by substitute goalkeeper Josh Kane.

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Ten-man Coláiste Eanna converted both of their penalties before Craig Canty netted the decisive spot-kick in sudden death.

Earlier, Ross Murphy sparked off the goal rush on 14 minutes with the opener for the Saints from a 20-yard free-kick.

Despite Aaron Kavanagh heading in the equaliser just two minutes later, another three had gone by when Josh Marvesley regained the Galway school's lead with a tap-in after Conor Kiernan had spilled Conor Melody's low drive. Warren Egan ensured the Dublin side got all-square again on 22 minutes by volleying through a clutch of defenders from close-range.

It got better for Coláiste Eanna 10 minutes before the break as they sped into the lead for the first time - Kavanagh claiming his second with an angled finish to make it 3-2.

Intense pressure from the westerners yielded a deserved equaliser on the hour mark. Ben Brennan’s crossfield pass sent Marvesley clear and he rolled the ball home. The big striker was close to finding the winning goal 13 minutes from full-time only for his coolness to elude him at the wrong time a mere eight yards out.

Extra-time produced more chances and bookings, including a second yellow for Eric Healy for an alleged dive just two minutes before penalties were required to separate the schools.

Coláiste Eanna CBS, Rathfarnham: C Kiernan (J Kane 109 mins); D Langan (C Canty 109 mins), D Miley, L Lovic, A White; H Keller, E Stokes; R Kinsella (C Crowley 87 mins), A Kavanagh, E Healy; W Egan (D Djedda 102 mins).

St Joseph's College, Galway: J Grealis; T McClean, B Keane, B Lally, D McGee (J Kennedy 42 mins); B Brennan (G Kinneen 102 mins), D Carter, J Coyne, R Murphy; C Melody; J Marvesley.

Referee: R Stokes (Longford)