Delight for College Corinthians as late strikes seal U17 Cup title
MATTHEW Broderick and Conor O’Sullivan were the heroes in Whitehall on Saturday as their final-quarter goals ensured Cork’s College Corinthians were crowned FAI Centenary U17 Cup champions at the expense of Corduff.
In a pulsating start to the action, Corinthians broke the deadlock courtesy of a fifth-minute penalty by midfielder Luke O’Donnell. This lead proved to be short-lived, however, as Corduff fired back just four minutes later through Luke Kearns’ superb finish from the edge of the box.
Although this was the end of the opening period scoring, Corduff’s King Obular and Corinthians skipper Harvey Skieters both found the net only for their efforts to be ruled out for offside.
The decision to disallow the latter angered the Leesiders’ bench, but the sides ultimately remained inseparable at the break.
While Kearns and Skieters went close for their respective sides on the resumption, the prospect of extra-time loomed large as the second half progressed. That was until Corinthians attacker Broderick eyed up the target on 69 minutes and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed drive to the Corduff net.
Their tails now up, Corinthians sealed the deal when an extraordinary strike from substitute O’Sullivan found the top right-hand corner with six minutes remaining.