Valiant Coola come close in final
Bank of Ireland FAI Schools First Year ‘B’ Boys National Cup Final
DUBLIN OAK ACADEMY 2 COOLA POST PRIMARY 1
A goal in each half saw the holders Dublin Oak Academy, Bray edge out Coola Post Primary School, Sligo 2-1 and capture a third successive Bank of Ireland FAI Schools First Year ‘B’ Boys National Cup in a thrilling Final at the AUL Complex on Thursday.
Coola in their third National final in as many years were hoping to bring the title back home to the Northwest. Kevin McCarthy’s side were up against tough opponents who have mostly Mexican and Spanish players.
The Bray side gained their famous hat-trick of wins with two cracking goals that came either side of Coola’s equally top notch equaliser. Dublin Oak had looked the stronger side in the opening period and after threatening with several attacking moves that Coola had dealt with by some excellent defending particularly on the part of their impressive centre back Chris McGowan they went in front.
Skipper Diego Sierra did well to play in German Lomelin and this time he got the better of McGowan to go on and fire a first time effort well out of the reach of Coola ‘keeper Fionn Healy.The Sligo boys quickly overcame this set back and inspired by skipper Sam Tuohy, Aaron Mullen and McGowan they came more into the game and were rewarded when they deservedly got back on terms before the break. Tuohy struck a beauty of an equaliser with five minutes of the half remaining after he was quick to latch on to a stray pass around the edge of the box. The Coola man then coolly picked his spot and fired in an unstoppable shot past the helpless Dublin Oak ‘keeper German Gandara.
The Bray side took control after the break and dominated most of the play but they had to wait until the half way point of the second period before they could turn their dominance in proceedings when grabbing a second goal.
Once again some dogged Coola defending was keeping them out with Ciaran Kenny, Mullen and McGowan getting vital blocks on efforts from Carlos Alverez, Hector Hernandez and Fererico Margin.
However the Bray students finally made the break through to grab the vital goal with Sergio Chavarra rattling in a 25 yard, right footed screamer that flew past Healy and straight into the top corner of the net. Coola did have a last gasp chance to take the game into extra time when Diarmuid Lavin got into the box but he was denied a shot on goal by good work from defenders Felipe Garcia and Fererico Margin.
An impressive third consecutive title for Dublin Oak Academy while Coola heartbreakingly suffer another National Cup upset with their second consecutive title foiled in the space of three weeks. No doubt Kevin McCarthy’s charges will regroup next season and command their authority in the Connacht setting before venturing for hopefully an elusive National title.
DUBLIN OAK ACADEMY, BRAY: German Gandara, Eugenio Jimenez, Fererico Margin, Felipe Garcia, Javier Bermea, Hector Hernandez, Sergio Chavarria, Horacio Servin, Diego Sierra (Captain), Jaime Priego, German Lomelin. Subs: Manuel Diaz, Aido Prandini, Adolfo Del Villar, Carlos Alvarez, Diego Lopez. Teacher: John McShane Assistant: Eddie Gormley.
COOLA POST PRIMARY SCHOOL: Fionn Healy, Conor Moyston, Ciaran Kenny, Aaron Mullen, Chris McGowan, Diarmuid Lavin, Sam Tuohy (Captain), Dylan McKenna, Joseph Brown, James Foley, Harry Cogan. Subs: Troy Gilgarro, Blaine Marshall, Conor Sheridan, Aaron Conlon, Darragh Brehony, Culann Gilmartin, Callum Kennedy, Patrick Gallagher. Teachers: Kevin McCarthy & Keith Raymond.
Referee: Fintan Butler (Dublin).