Mount Sion captain Justin Croke receives the Munster U-17 SFAI Schools Cup from Matt Keane.
FAI Munster U17 School’s Trophy Final
Mount Sion 2 Nagle Community College 1
Matt Keane
Mount Sion came out on top against Nagle Community College from Cork in Ozier Park on Tuesday last.
The victory put to bed the memory of losing two Munster semi-finals this season in other grades and being defeated in the final of this competition last year.
The team managed and coached by Dommo Connolly and Paul Keane respectively appeared to be in cruise control when they went into the halftime break leading two nil but when the Leesiders scored early in the second half the game was turned on its head.
Mount Sion however regained their composure and could have tagged d on at least two more goals.
Sion took up the running from the outset and a quick goal looked on after seven minutes when Justin Croke picked out Tunmise Sobowale but the Waterford United player dragged his shot wide of the target.
Shortly afterwards the Mount Sion goalkeeper Aaron Healy displayed wonderful bravery by diving at the feet of Tony Pardy who had run on to a long ball from Aaron Cotter. Stephen O’Leary fired in an angled shot from the right on 21 minutes but the ball flew across the Mount Sion goalmouth.
The all-important opening goal arrived on 23 minutes. Justin Croke took a pass from Benji Ajikobi and Tunmise Sobowale found the net from inside the penalty area after meeting the ball from Croke superbly.
Mount Sion doubled their advantage10 minutes later. Good build up play involving Tunmise Sobowale and Timi Sobowale resulted in the ball finding its way to Justin Croke and the team captain found the net from 20 yards as the Nagle defence stood off the talented player who also plays for the Waterford United U17 team.
The second half was only two minutes old when the visitors pulled themselves back into the contest.
Cameron O’Regan played the ball over the Mount Sion defence and the lightning quick striker Tony Pardy gave Aaron Healy no chance with a super shot on the run from just inside the left side of the penalty area.
Back came the Waterford school and Shane Hennessy did well to turn away an effort from Justin Croke on 46 minutes. Mount Sion could have killed off the challenge of the Cork outfit on 58 minutes when Justin Croke sent over a corner kick from the right but Benji Ajikobi headed wide at the back post. In the closing stages substitute Johnny Flynn went close on two occasions. He took a fine ball from Justin Croke on 71 minutes but he was unable to keep his shot on target from a great position and five minutes from time Flynn had a shot brilliantly saved by Shane Hennessy. Shortly afterwards Justin Croke accepted the trophy on behalf of his colleagues and recent heartaches in provincial competitions were soon forgotten.
MOUNT SION: Aaron Healy, Ivan Sinnott, Chris Muresan, Daniel Ogundele, Tommy McGrath, Timi Sobowale, Jack Kennedy, Tunmise Sobowale, Justin Croke, Benji Ajikobi, Alex Phelan. Sub. Johnny Flynn for Ajikobi (65 mins).
Rest of squad. Patrick Alabi, Evan McGrath, Edward Cullen, David Ogundele, Sam Robinson.
NAGLE CC: Shane Hennessy, Chris Keating, Craig Jordan, Alan Nugent, Dean McCarthy, Alexsanoem Gamp, Cameron O’Regan, Aaron Cotter, Tony Pardy, Stephen O’Leary, Timi Olan. Sub. Aaron O’Brien for Olan (71 mins).
Rest of squad. Nathan Flanagan, Murfat Ali, Kenneth Cotter, Pablo Rivero.
REFEREE: Tony Walsh. Assistants. Ian Paul and Johnny Matthews.
