All Ireland Post Primary Schools SFC ’B’ Championship Semi-Final – Abbey CBS 0-9 Coláiste na Carraige,Donegal 0-8

All Ireland Post Primary Schools SFC ’B’ Championship Semi-Final

A dramatic victory for the Abbey CBS

Abbey CBS 0-9 Coláiste na Carraige, Donegal 0-8

The Abbey CBS had to dig deep to win this game against a well prepared and motivated side from Donegal. The cold, raw, wet and blustery conditions in Mullingar militated against a high standard of football and scores were at a premium. Indeed both semifinals went down to the wire.

In the final analysis, a strong finish won the day for the Abbey. Josh Ryan had pointed from a forty metre free to leave the minimum between the sides with three minutes of normal time remaining. Coláiste na Carraige had won two close in frees on the right wing to seal their victory, but alas failed to convert both. The Abbey attacked in search of the leveller and when Daire Egan was fouled, Andrew Vance popped over the all important equaliser.

Time was almost up and the patrons were prepared for extra time, as happened in the other semi-final, but there was another twist to come.The Abbey won the kick out and again when Shane Ryan was fouled on the fourteen metre line, Vance sent over the lead point from the resultant free in added time. Shortly afterwards,the referee blew the final whistle, as the Abbey boys celebrated and the boys from Coláiste na Carraige were disconsolate as the last two points proved match winners and propelled the Abbey into the All Ireland final.

The Abbey played into the strong swirling wind in the first half. The Donegal boys got on the scoreboard early but points from Keith Landy and a frees by Josh Ryan and Andrew Vance kept the Abbey in touch.The Abbey defense did trojan work during this period and especially Tommy Lowry who gave a man of the match performance and also kept a tight rein on the excellent Conor Doherty. Going into the final ten minutes of the half the sides were deadlocked, 0-3 apiece. However Coláiste na Carraige tacked on another three late points, to lead 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.

Two minutes into the second half Conor Doherty pointed for the Donegal boys to increase their lead to four points. However the Abbey held firm, limiting the opposition to just one more point, twenty five minutes later, in this second half. The Abbey gradually whittled down the lead with three unanswered points, two from Josh Ryan and another from Daire Egan. With ten minutes remaining the Donegal sides was leading 0-7 to 0-6.

Then Conor Doherty pointed Coláiste further ahead. A Josh Ryan free with three minutes remaining edged the Abbey back into contention, leaving only the minimum between the sides. Following a Conor Doherty free which dropped short,the Abbey attacked and Aaron Doherty was adjudged to have touched the ball on the ground, Andrew Vance slotted over the leveller from this free. The Abbey attacked again from the kickout and when Shane Ryan was tugged back, Vance again from the resultant free slotted over the winner.

This was a fairy tale ending as the Abbey boys snatched a deserved victory from the jaws of defeat, and sure the boot of Andrew Vance has taken them to an All Ireland final tilt against St. Mary’s Academy Carlow on Saturday April 11th in Croke Park.

St. Mary’s Academy defeated Holy Rosary College Mountbellew also in the curtain raiser in Mullingar after extra time, and indeed are on outfit to be reckoned with. So the Tipperary and Munster standard-bearers won by 0-9 to 0-8 in the end, despite losing Shane Ryan to a late double yellow.

It was a fine team effort with all the team and subs contributing to this victory. The defense was superb, well marshalled by Eoghan McNamara, Shane Power and Stephen Moloney. Josh Ryan and Brian Fanning worked hard at midfield. Up front Daire Egan, Shane Neville and Stephen O’Dwyer also did well.

The Abbey CBS; Callum Fanning (Galtee Rovers); Caolán Hennessy (Cappawhite), Eoghan McNamara (Oola), Stephen Moloney (Lattin/Cullen); Tommy Lowry (Arravale) Rovers), Shane Power (Galtee Rovers), Davy Byron (Galtee Rovers); Josh Ryan (0-3) (Oola), Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen); Shane Neville (Lattin/Cullen); Keith Landy (Golden/Kilfeacle)(0-1), Shane Ryan (Galtee Rovers); Andrew Vance (Emly)(0-4f), Daire Egan (Galtee Rovers, Stephen O’Dwyer (Galtee Rovers)(0-1)
Subs: Shane Ryan for Caolán Hennessy and Paul Ryan (Solohead) for Keith Landy.

Coláiste na Carraige; Ml. Cunningham; D.Lyons, J.McGinley, P.Doherty; B.O’Donnell, P.Doherty, G.Molloy; P.Byrne, C.Byrne; A.Doherty, P.Cunningham, L.Molloy; P.McNern, P.O’Neill, C.Doherty

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)

Footnote; The Abbey last won the All Ireland SFC ‘B’ in football 1998 and interestingly, the current Abbey manager, former Tipperary football star, Damian O’Brien played at wing-forward on that victorious team. The Abbey will also be playing two Munster finals after the Easter holidays.The U16 ½ FC ‘B’ final against Rathmore, County Kerry on Wednesday April 15th and the Munster U15HC ‘B’ final against the Gael Choláiste, North Monastery on Friday April 17th.

Report and photo supplied by Jerry Ring