COOLA’S HEARTACHE IN NATIONAL FINAL
COOLA POST PRIMARY 2 PCC FALCARRAGH 3
BANK OF IRELAND FAI SCHOOLS MINOR B BOYS NATIONAL CUP FINAL tunately for the Sligo school victory wasn’t theirs on this occasion.
Around half the Coola team had been in runners up in the first year National final two years previous so the calibre speaks for itself and they really tested their Donegal opponents in the opening half and the first 15 minutes of the second period.
Crowds from Coola were there to cheer their team on and the opening half saw lots to shout about. Coola captain Johnny Kenny was showing blistering pace testing the Falcarragh defence. A great cross from Sam Tuohy saw Kenny trick the defender but his shot went narrowly wide on 7 minutes.
A Thomas Flynn corner saw Paul Mahon almost connect which would surely have been the opening goal for Kevin McCarthy’s Coola.
Then another corner for the Sligo side from Flynn saw Mahon get a touch and the ball smashed into the back of the Falcarragh net but referee Thomas Oates disallowed it for a foul in the box.
Down the other end Falcarragh gave Coola keeper Kyle Davey his first test, captain Blake McGarvey with a blistering shot but Davey expertly got his fingertips to the shot on 23 minutes. Coola’s intensity sensed blood and they were rewarded on 27 minutes with a sensational goal from Flynn whose shot blasted into the left hand corner with the Falcarragh keeper left reeling.
Jason McGoldrick who had set Flynn up for the goal saw his thundering free-kick go inches wide on 31 minutes as Falcarragh took their first corner of the game a minute later which Coola defended.
The Sligo side were 1-0 up at half-time and they got the second half off to a good start. Simon McKeon saw his attempt come off a Falcarragh defender and out for a corner.
Flynn again who was expertly popping corners into the box sent another inch-perfect shot into the path of the towering Mahon whose header slammed into the back of the Falcarragh net on 41 minutes to give Coola a 2-0 cushion with less than 30 minutes to go.
The Donegal side then started their comeback and with Connor Hanna and McGarvey lively upfront it felt like a goal was on its way.
Daire Ferry passed to McGarvey who blasted into the net on 51 minutes and 5 minutes later it was McGarvey again from the edge of the box which Davey could do little about as they equalised on 56 minutes. Falcarragh now were pressurising and with 5 minutes to go they went in front for the first time.
An excellent shot from Paul Johnston slammed into the top right corner as they went 3-2 in front.
Coola kept on pressing for the equaliser, substitute Ciaran Kenny was lively on the attack and although Coola did have a number of chances it was Falcarragh who ran out 3-2 winners. Coola’s players and management, understandably were crestfallen at the full-time whistle as it wasn’t to be their day.
COOLA POST PRIMARY: K Davey, J Kilkenny, B O’Connor, P Mahon, A Kearns, K Mullen, S Tuohy, J McGoldrick (C O’Boyle 69), S McKeon, J Kenny (C), T Flynn (C Kenny 65). Substitutes: C McMorrow, A Mullen, J Foley, D McKenna, D Gabbidon. Management: K McCarthy, K Raymond, M Byrne.
PCC FALCARRAGH: T Ferry, O Doogan, E Doherty, D Ferry, K Boyle, R Moran, C McGeever, O Doogan, C Hanna, B McGarvey (C), P Johnston. Substitutes: T Doherty, N Toye, J Doogan, J Geaney, O Craig, M O’Reillym P Coyle, E Friel. Management: C Smyth, C Coll.
REFEREE: T Oates. Assistants: P McLoughlin, K Deering.