FAI SCHOOLS DR TONY O’NEILL NATIONAL CUP FINAL

Late agony for Holy Rosary in Schools Cup showdown

Gallant Mountbellew boys have goal controversially ruled out in late drama

WEXFORD CBS   3

HOLY ROSARY    2

Daire Walsh in Clonshaugh

THERE was heartbreak for Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh last Wednesday as Micheal O’Donnell’s side fell to a last-gasp defeat against Wexford CBS in the FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill National Cup decider.

Despite being 2-0 adrift with just 25 minutes gone on the clock, Holy Rosary subsequently forced themselves back into the reckoning either side of the half-time break. The momentum appeared to be with the Connacht outfit when Ryan Nolan superbly grabbed an equaliser moments after Wexford netminder Shay O’Leary had been red carded, but their Slaneyside counterparts dug deep with 10 men.

Introduced with 15 minutes of normal time remaining, Rory Gilbert fired home a stoppage-time goal that ultimately secured the title for the Leinster champions.

This was a cruel way for Holy Rosary – who, like their opponents, were seeking a maiden title in this competition – to lose out, but it remains a memorable year for the school. Their spirit and never-say-attitude was on full display throughout and it was a game that could easily have swung in their favour.

Originally set to take place at Home Farm FC in Whitehall on Dublin’s northside, the pitch was eventually deemed unplayable a short while before the expected kick-off time of 1pm. Following a frantic scramble to find an alternative venue – rather than delaying the final for a future date – it was decided to switch the game to AUL for 3pm on the same day.

The start time was subsequently brought forward to 2.45pm and while the lack of cover meant supporters from both schools were caught up in the rain, the pitch’s all-weather surface ensured the final could go ahead.

In their provincial final victory over Coláiste na hInse, Bettystown, Sam Norval was the hero for Wexford CBS with a brace of goals. It didn’t take him long to stamp his authority on this game as he fired confidently to the Holy Rosary net with just under two minutes on the clock – following a knock down by centre-forward Darby Purcell.

This was an early blow for Holy Rosary, but they were almost back on level terms just three minutes later. Capitalising on defensive hesitancy, Nolan got himself through on the target and dragged his shot narrowly past the right-hand post.

The Connacht champions were finding space in behind the Wexford back-four as the action progressed, though Ben English and Tadhg Brohan came up with some strong interventions to deny them another path to goal.

Ciaran Mulhern was short of the range just past the first-quarter mark, but there was to be a further setback for Holy Rosary moments later. Having outmuscled the opposition rearguard, Waterford FC prospect Norval superbly drilled home his second goal of the tie.

This made matters look decidedly ominous for Holy Rosary and with Ronan Murphy having a goal ruled out for offside, it appeared that luck wasn’t with them. However, things started to change for them in the 33rd minute.

While it was difficult to ascertain if Mulhern got a final touch to Conor French’s delivery off a free-kick inside his own half, his presence certainly put off O’Leary and the ball wound up in the net as a result. Holy Rosary were now a rejuvenated force and Mulhern forced a point-blank save from O’Leary towards the end of the opening period.

The Wexford captain also produced an acrobatic stop from Mulhern to make sure his side held onto a 2-1 interval cushion. The impressive O’Leary continued to keep Holy Rosary at bay on the resumption, until his afternoon came to an abrupt end when he was dismissed for a challenge on Murphy with 59 minutes played.

There was a significant delay in order for back-up custodian Cormac Mythen to take his spot between the Wexford sticks, while Murphy was also initially treated for an injury before thankfully getting back to his feet.

This left Nolan with an opportunity to perfectly size up the target and he curled the resulting free-kick from 25 yards beyond the reach of Mythen for an outstanding individual finish. Holy Rosary seemed to hold all the aces at this juncture, but Wexford dealt admirably with their numerical deficiency.

Before making way for Gilbert, their right-back Brandon Stafford fired over a glorious chance from in front of the goal. Nevertheless, Wexford continued to probe and after turning sharply in possession, Gilbert unleashed an unstoppable drive into the bottom left-hand corner on 93 minutes.

There looked to be a final sting in the tail when French found the net two minutes later, but it was somewhat contentiously disallowed for a foul on a Wexford defender. Holy Rosary fought to the bitter end, but fell short in their bid to force the game into extra-time.

Wexford CBS: S O’Leary; B Stafford (R Gilbert 75), B English, T Brohan, J Dempsey; C Mackey, D Byrne Maloney (B Harpur 97); K Harnett, S Norval, L Farrell (C Mythen, 62 mins); D Purcell.

Holy Rosary College: R Walsh; C Byron (C Lennon 86), C French, T Miskell, I Fahy; C Nolan, T Proulx; A Kantauskas, R Nolan, R Murphy; C Mulhern.