Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG battle bravely but lose out to Raphoe in FAI Schools Minor Boys National Cup Final

Deele College, Raphoe 4

Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG 1 

It looked for long stretches of this FAI National Cup Final on Wednesday that Cian ÓRícín’s superb first half strike and yet another heroic performance in goal from Scott ÓTuama might help Gaelcholáiste Mhuire defy the odds and make history in Athlone.

Ultimately, however the slick movement of Deele College, spearheaded by Odhran McHugh at the head of the attack, proved far too much for the Cork school to overcome as they failed in their bid to become the first school from the county to pick up this trophy since Coláiste Spioraid Naomh of Bishopstown in 2008.

Last time out it was two sublime strikes from Lee Ó Cochláin and Seán Ó Croidheán who powered the AG past Summerhill College of Sligo in the semi-final, with Ó Tuama drafted into goals following an injury to Dara Ó Conchúir and producing an outstanding display behind towering defender Jamie Daltúin.

Deele College didn’t waste any time issuing notice that the AG would need to follow the same script.

Cian Ó Ricín’s kick off saw Odhran McHugh gobble up the ground and snatch the ball before it got to Jamie Ó Meachair, skipping past one tackle before forcing Ó Tuama to push his shot out for a corner.

The custodian was called into action three times in the first ten minutes before Gaelcholáiste Mhuire finally showed their own attacking threat from a Lee Ó Cochláin free, brilliantly whipped into the crossbar from 25 yards.

That was to be a brief respite as Deele College went right back on the offensive, creating but spurning three more opportunities while Daltúin did incredibly well to slide in and dispossess McHugh some ten yards out from goal on another, knowing that the slightest miss in terms of timing would lead to a penalty.

But when a lapse in defensive concentration allowed Ó Ricín to snatch possession and hammer a shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the area just before the first half water break, the smash and grab win was on.

As for the single key turning point, there was no debate.

Ó Cochláin’s corner in the last minute of the first half was inch-perfect, swinging inwards and somehow bouncing in the small square right in front of the middle of the goal before running narrowly wide without any player getting the faint touch that was needed.

One long ball later McHugh was in behind the AG defence, his finish was immaculate into the bottom corner, and the Cork lads had to regroup for the second half.

With warm sunshine overhead and the artificial surface adding yet more heat, the Munster champions were always going to struggle to maintain their high workrate with the opposition controlling the ball. An unheeded Deele College penalty shout turned out to be their last reprieve, as McHugh started to show his class.

His second goal came as he stepped inside his man and shot across the goal from close range, while his third summed up the game as a whole. He slipped Odhran Kee in on goal, Scott Ó Tuama made a superb stop, only to see the ball rebound to McHugh. Even then, while on his knees, Ó Tuama got a hand to the shot, but not enough to keep it out.

By the time McHugh completed his scoring masterclass, the Gaelscoil side could sense that their race was run, though in keeping with their efforts all year, they battled to the end and struck woodwork a second time, Ó Ricín striking the foot of the post from 20 yards. Impressive, but unrewarded, like the game as a whole for the AG.

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG: Scott Ó Tuama; Craig Ó Suilleabháin, Jamie Daltúin, Jamie Ó Meachair, Cody Ó Meachair; Lee Ó Cochláin, Eoin Ó hÓgáin, Seán Ó Croidheán, Alex Ó Maoldomhnaigh; Jamie Ó Murnáin; Cian Ó Ricín.

SUBS: Jamie Ó Donnabháin for Ó Murnáin (39), CJ Ó Crualaíoch for Daltúin (43), Callum Ó Healaithe for C Ó Meachair (50), Evan Mac Inneirí for Ó Cochláin (57), Kyle MacCárthaigh for Ó Croidheán (58).

DEELE COLLEGE: Evan McCarron; Ben Farrell, Luke O’Donnell, Senan Kavanagh, Ronan Tinney; Josh O’Donnell, Odhran Kee; Ronan McGranaghan, Jayme Lafferty, Lewis Quinn; Odhran McHugh.

SUBS: Ashton Crossan for Lafferty (46), Cody Hannigan for O’Donnell (60).

Referee: Damien Conlon.

Assistant Referees: Billy Stokes, Paul Tone.