On what was ideal day for football at the excellent facilities The Curragh in Killygordan provide PCC Falcarragh were crowned the FAI Schools Junior B Boys Ulster champions after this hard earned victory over a gallant St.Catherines Vocational School, Killybegs.
PCC FALCARRAGH 1 ST.CATHERINES VOCATIONAL KILLYBEGS 0
There is no doubting that the Falcarragh lads were the better team on the day but against a side that battled hard throughout it wasn’t until the 81th minute that the winners finally made the breakthrough their play deserved.
And it was a goal worth waiting for and one worthy of winning a closely contested final. After a number of good openings had been spurned the PCC lads produced yet another good build-up with several players involved in a flowing passing movement before the ball reached Eddie McHugh on the edge of the box, he stepped past an advancing defender with some lovely footwork and passed the ball out to Darragh Breen.
The winger, who had looked dangerous all day, took a super first touch and then drilled the ball low past the excellent Eoin McGing for what proved the winning of the game.
The first-half had been keenly contest, PCC had more of the ball but the St.Catherines defence, led by Odhras McGuinness, held fine, full back Sean O Shea was also excellent throughout this game.
PCC captain Anthony Browne led by example while Ciaran Coll and Conan Brennan always looked dangerous and while both keepers handled everything well that they needed too, there were few real chances at either end.
The early stages oaf the second-half produced more in the line of goalmouth incidents.
Anthony Browne headed Carlos O’Reilly’s dangerous free-kick against the crossbar in the 50th minute, five minutes later O’Reilly’s excellent pass put Ciaran Coll away but his shot was well blocked and then after those three had combined to force a corner, Browne was just wide with a well executed scissors kick.
St Catherines VS, Killybegs
So it was somewhat against the run of play that St.Catherines could have taken the lead in the 59th minute. Mc Guinness’s free-kick from near half-way caused some problems in the PCC box and when Oisín Cannon was unable to grab it the ball fell to Hugh Johnstone’s feet close to goal but under pressure he was unable to keep the ball on target, certainly a let-off for PCC.
However the Falcarragh lads were soon back in control and after several near things they finally made the vital breakthrough with Darragh Breen’s super finish to round off another excellent build-up. In the final minute Carlos O Reilly’s pass put Conan Brennan clean through but keeper McGing advanced and got a foot to his shot to deny him.
PCC Falcarragh move on to the All Ireland semi-finals where they will meet the Leinster champions.
PCC FALCARRAGH: Oisin Cannon, Patrick Moffitt, Shaun Curran, Eddie McHugh, Kyle McMullen, Keenan Gallagher, Carlos O’Reilly, Darragh Breen, Anthony Browne, Ciaran Coll, Conan Brennan.
ST. CATHERINES VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, KILLYBEGS: Eoin McGing, Timmie Gorrell, Sean O’Shea, Odhran McGuinness, Dylan Murphy, Oisin McMenamin (Rory Collier 68), Donal O’Buachalla, Mark Hutchinson, Charlie Blaine, Hugh Johnstone, Conor Cunningham.
REFEREE: Vincent McLoughlin
Tags: