Oliver Plunkets in Fingal Schools Final
St Oliver Plunkett National School Senior Boys took on a strong St Mary's of Ashbourne in the Fingal Schools League Premier Division final in Parnell Park on Tuesday . There is nothing quite like the schools finals in Parnell Park in May and the 400 odd screaming Malahide kids been shepherded by some stressed teachers and a bunch of nervous parents all decked out in the school colours ensured the excitement and noise level was like an All Ireland Final. The bus loads of travelling supporters left the school early with high hopes that this was going to be their year as they have fallen at the final hurdle a few times before in recent years but unfortunately Malahide lost out again in a close encounter.
Played on a large pitch with small goals in difficult windy
conditions this was always going to be a tight, low scoring encounter
and so it turned out. With the aid of the strong breeze in the first
half Ashbourne dominated possession but their forwards were guilty of
some wayward shooting. The Malahide lads defended stoutly with Philip
Ryan and Josh Reinharte in the corners and Denis O' Brien at wing back
refusing to allow anything get past while Eoin Ryan competed bravely
with the one of tallest full forwards ever seen at national schools
level. Harry Barnes was solid as a rock in goals and managed his
kick-outs superbly against the strong breeze. As the half wore on Eamon
Mcloughney started winning possession at midfield and the forwards
managed to create some chances of their own with good work from forwards
Barry Crosse and Jamie Kennedy. Ashbourne finally got their reward as
the full forward struck for a goal but despite missing some kickable
frees the Malahide lads turned at half time only 3 points down. All to
play for in the second half.
Team manager Hugh Curran made some positional switches at half time
as Marcus Young moved out to the '40' and Luke Hughes moving into full
forward. Helped now by the strong breeze Malahide started to win more of
the ball around the middle third. At midfield Daniel Deneher (playing
with a heavily bandaged dislocated finger) was covering every blade of
grass while Daniel Brennan and Osian Dullaghan were winning all the
breaks and the lads began to dominate. They camped for long periods in
the opposition half but scores were hard to come by. The 'Olivers Army'
of travelling support upped the noise level (if that was possible)
and as the game entered the final quarter the tension was unbearable but
the scores just would not come. Then the sucker punch - a rare
breakaway by the Ashbourne lads resulted in a fortunate goal from a
blockdown. AJ McCabe and Sean Drumm responded with a couple of points
from frees which cut the deficit and it was still all to play for. Conor
Mulcahy and Jack Murray came on in the forwards and worked their socks
off but time ran out as the Malahide lads searched for the elusive goal
which might have changed the day but it wasn't to be.
This was a tough, hard uncompromising game of football reminiscent
of Dublin, Meath clashes of the past. Ashbourne had some fine
footballers, notably their full back who was probably man of the match
and a very strong midfield pairing but the Malahide lads never shirked
and gave as good as they got. These fine footballers will undoubtedly go
on to win many honours at both club and school in the coming years but
this was not to be their year. They have been unlucky to come up against
this exceptional St Marys team over the last couple of years and
although disappointed they have to be proud of their runners-up position
in this strong league.
Final score: St Marys Ashbourne 2:3, St Oliver Plunketts Malahide 0:5
Team:
1 Harry Barnes, 2 Philip Ryan, 3 Eoin Ryan, 4 Josh Reinhardt, 5
Daniel Brennan, 6 Osian Dullaghan, 7 Daniel O'Brien, 8 Daniel Deneher, 9
Eamonn McLoughney, 10 Jamie Kennedy, 11 Luke Hughes, 12 Sean Drumm, 13
AJ McCabe, 14 Marcus Young, 15 Barry Crosse, 16 Conor Mulcahy, 17 Jack
Murray, 18 David McCormack, 19 Jack Quinn, 20 Ben O'Neill