Reporting team: Aidan Kelly, David Naughten and Jack O’Connor
A POWERFUL and hugely skilful Brendan’s College, Killarney side has reached the final of the All-Ireland Under 15 schools’ soccer championship with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Oranmore of Galway at the penultimate stage.
The Sem, who had to submit and win an appeal to be allowed to continue in the competition, following an issue over a fixtures issue, justified their stance when they booked their place in the decider.
This game sparked great controversy as the Sem were initially eliminated from the All-Ireland series due to a misunderstanding over the original date of the tie. This decision was appealed by the school before the Easter break which resulted in the Killarney side being allowed to continue.
Oranmore, with home advantage, opted for the outstanding facility of Terryland Park – home to the League of Ireland side Galway United – and with perfect conditions and a superb pitch, there could have been no better venue for a clash of this importance.
Oranmore started the brighter with a teasing ball in behind the Sem’s defence but it was well dealt with by keeper Robert Osborne.
The Sem soon settled into the game and started to string a series of passes together in midfield, orchestrated by the much talked about Spanish student Marcos. A neat one-two between striker Michael Potts with Marcos led to a golden opportunity which resulted in Potts delicately stroking the ball past the helpless Oranmore keeper, giving Killarney the lead.
The pressure from the Sem was relentless and it was only a matter of time before they got a second. Midfielder Michael Potts proved his worth to the team as a makeshift striker when he netted his second within 10 minutes after some great build-up play from the back with the dangerous Thando Dube beautifully chipping a pass over the defence to Potts who smashed the ball into the far corner.
Oranmore showed glimpses of revival with the best of their chances being sniffed out by the ever-present Niall Donohue with a fantastic sliding tackle stopping what looked a certain Oranmore goal just before the half-time whistle.
The Sem went in at the break leading 2-0 which left the Galway school with a lot of work to do if they wanted to progress to the final.
Rain lashed the Galway venue on the resumption and this factor significantly changed the tempo of the game and was the cause of many unforced errors by both teams.
Oranmore drew first blood in the second half with a precarious cross skidding across the box and making its way to the back post to an unmarked Oranmore player who made no mistake.
Yet again the Oranmore flow of pressure was halted by a scrappy Sem goal at the opposite end. A floated cross from right back Jack Griffin was spilled by the Oranmore number one and it fell to the feet of Chris O’Donoghue who dispatched the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
The Sem were on top in all sectors of the park, with Michael Potts brought out wide and inflicting more pain on the Oranmore defence. After a brilliant piece of skill, Potts put the ball on a plate for Marcos who coolly tucked the ball into the corner of the net.
The tie was fittingly sealed with an audacious 30 yard attempt from Lorcan MacMonagle that somehow found its way into the back of the net.
The Sem will face a much stiffer test in the final when Dublin side Templeogue provide the opposition. There were plenty of positives to applaud for the Sem backroom staff and with the finale fast approaching next Tuesday, the chance of an All-Ireland title will be the only thought on the Sem boys’ minds.
- Aidan Kelly, David Naughten and Jack O’Connor are Transition Year students in St Brendan’s College
