Congratulations All-Ireland Champions!
CHAMPIONS - Match Report by Mr. E Ryan
The rain that bounced off the M8 from Cork was not enough to dampen the spirits of the St. Peter's faithful, who, ignoring conditions, travelled en masse in the hopes of seeing the school lift the FAI senior B U19 boys' schools cup for the 2nd time in 9 years.
The opposition, Glenamaddy from North Galway ensured it was a Connacht versus Munster affair.
Almost right from the off the ball was fed to Eoghan Farrell who unleashed a powerful shot on target to unsettle the Glenamaddy keeper. This set the tone. St. Peter's were the better team first half, dominating possession and all positive stats but Glenamaddy showed pace and a potential in the counter attack. They were by no means out of it and a tight but quality first half ended scoreless.
The second half was a different affair. Even the sun gave a good account of itself and it didn't take long before St. Peter's opened the game up and really took control. On 50 minutes Kristian O'Callaghan drilled the ball across the box from the left where super right back Liam Quinn, unleashed a cracking shot low into the left corner. 1-0. The stand at Lissywollen, Athlone Town's impressive ground exploded. It was inevitable.
Seven minutes later the lead was doubled. The sublime Rheme Mbakwe first to react in the box to a half-stop by Glenamaddy’s number 1 Ross Hegarty.
For twenty minutes captain Mark Lester, Eoghan McInerney, Daragh Lehane and Scott Moynihan gave virtually flawless defensive displays. Not to mention the box to box play of controlled and assured Cork City Academy star Liam Quinn.
Glenamaddy's number 9 Dylan Joyce looked sharp however and the tribesmen were rewarded eventually when Eoin Morgan pulled one back. This was a wake-up call for the Cork team and boy did they respond. It took just one minute for Mbakwe to collect his brace, a brilliant drive into the left corner and a celebration sprint to the touchline to silence the opposition. 3-1. Mbakwe was now on a hattrick and it wouldn't be his first of the campaign should he pull it off.
Some great midfield play by Brian Lenihan shored up any loose play as the game progressed and in the closing stages classmate Liam Quinn got his brace to make it 4-1. Surely that would be that, but to be fair, Glenamaddy's heads never dropped and super sub John O'Brien pulled another back.
Cue Mbakwe to respond again. The player of the match was unplayable and he forced the opposition into conceding 5 or 6 yellow cards from tackles on him alone. We lost count. He had been brought down in the box this time. This was, however, by no means a dirty game; Glenamaddy just could not cope, and Mbakwe was afforded the opportunity to seal the game, the hattrick, and the cup from the spot. Emphatic. 5-2.
St. Peter's will continue with another strong team next year and some of the 6th years will move on. One thing is certain, under the guidance of coach Mr. Kit O'Keffee supported by the teachers and leadership of the school, St. Peter's will go on producing great soccer teams. It's part of the DNA, be they cup winners or not, for these are the rites of passage.
For now we'll savour this. Champions. Champions of Munster. Champions of Ireland.