Colaiste na Mi best in pulsating final showdown

GAVIN BYRNE

It was a historic day for Coláiste na Mí’s Minor Boys’ soccer team as they beat O’Carolan College, Nobber 4-3 to win the North-East Leinster title in a pulsating match at Navan’s MDL on Thursday.

It was a less than ideal start as the Navan school as they went 1-0 down inside the opening few minutes, getting undone by a swift O’Carolan College counterattack down their right-hand side. Their lead, however, would not last long as forward Matthew Broe levelled proceedings thanks to a well-placed shot after some tidy exchanges in midfield.

At 1-1, the game was finely balanced with both sides taking turns to attack. It was O’Carolan College who struck again. After some promising build-up play from Coláiste na Mí, O’ Carolan College won the ball quickly and scored with another devastating counter, this one coming down the left-hand side. O’Carolan College were getting a lot of joy down both wings and Coláiste na Mí were struggling to deal with them.

At 2-1 down, Coláiste na Mí faced an uphill task to get back in the game. The 2nd OCC goal had shifted the momentum and Coláiste na Mí were struggling to get back into the game.

Striker Isaac Ikede provided the much-needed spark as he was released through on goal by strike partner Broe and he made no mistake with the finish. It was the Johnstown man’s 10th goal of the North-East Leinster campaign and would prove to be his most important of the season.

Buoyed by the equaliser, the Johnstown team began pushing for another. Midfielder Josh Phoenix was fouled in the box after a lung-busting run from deep and was awarded a penalty. The Bohemians man made no mistake with his spot kick and comfortably tucked it away into the bottom right-hand corner.

The half-time whistle was welcomed by both teams after a frantic opening 35 minutes. Following the break, CNM changed their shape to account for the threat posed by the pace of OCC’s front men.

The second half was a much tighter affair as the minutes ticked by. Once again, the scores were level as O’Carolan College scored from a corner. There was dismay on the Coláiste na Mí bench as it appeared that keeper Gearoid Hannigan sustained a kick in the build up but the goal stood.

As the clock edged towards extra-time, there was finally another breakthrough. Matthew Broe was released through on goal and made the finish look easy as he scored the final goal of the game to make it 4-3

Coláiste na Mí survived a late O’Carolan College onslaught as they held on to win the cup. Captain Alex Quigley, a winner of the same competition with the school’s u-17s few weeks prior, was presented with the cup and history was made for Coláiste na Mí.

Coláiste na Mí squad - Gearoid Hannigan, Kayden Hill; Mark Gordon, Alex Quigley, Favour O’Efe, Denzel Boaitey, Alex Kiernan-Byrne; Josh Phoenix, Jack Quirke, Max Dunne, Caiden Henry-McFadden, David Denila, Eoin McElroy, Matthew Foley, Ryan McMullan; Matthew Broe, Isaac Ikede, David Akinwale