Match report for All Ireland
Conditions were perfect in the Athlone Town stadium for the meeting of Scoil Ruain Killenaule and Coola Post Primary school in the Junior “B” boys national school final. The two teams certainly took advantage of the perfect conditions and produced a spectacular final which will be talked about in Tipperary and Sligo for years to come.
The game began in frantic fashion with both sides having early chances but neither goal keeper was called into action in the early exchanges. It was the team from Sligo that held the ascendancy following the ten minute mark, with most of game being played in the Scoil Ruain half. This early period of pressure paid dividends in the fifteenth minute as Owen Elding rifled the ball into top corner of the Scoil Ruain net following a corner routine which was clearly rehearsed on the Coola training ground.
Following the Coola strike, Scoil Ruain began to grow into the game and heaped pressure on to the Coola goal. The tenacious Alex Greene driving his team up the field and laying siege to the Coola goal. This period of sustained pressure culminated in a clear- cut opportunity for Brandon Ryan Webster which grazed over the crossbar. The Coola defence was expertly marshalled by goalkeeper Kyle Gabbidon as the shot stopper commanded his area and claimed a plethora of set pieces and corners snuffing out Scoil Ruain attacks.
Just as the half ended, Scoil Ruain pushed hard for an equaliser but the compact Coola defence held firm. As the men from Tipperary pushed hard up the field in attack, Coola striker Daire Callaghan hung on the shoulder of the advanced Scoil Ruain defensive line. This strategy proved to be fruitful as a long clearance from the edge of the Coola box allowed Callaghan to hare on to the ball and advance into the Scoil Ruain box. The Coola ace managed shrug off challenges from Scoil Rauin defenders and narrowly poke the ball past Adam O` Connell in the Scoil Ruain net to make it 2-0 going into the break.
The second half began in the same frantic fashion which closed the first. It was abundantly clear that the men from south Tipperary were determined to grab the initiative and wrestle their way back into the game. The charge being led by Captain Luke Ryan as the Killenaule man stressed the importance of possession and cool headedness to his teammates. As the half continued Scoil Ruain were clearly in the ascendancy and piled the pressure on the Coola backline. This passage of dominance was rightfully rewarded when the referee awarded a penalty as the ever- industrious Alex Greene was brought down inside the area. Luke Ryan stepped up to the spot and coolly sent the imposing Gabbidon the wrong way to make it 2-1.
A constant feature of the game was the extremely high quality of set- piece delivery from both sides. A number of probing corners and free-kicks provided chances for both Scoil Ruain and Coola throughout the second- half. It was one such set piece which would prove crucial in the 58th minute. A deep, out swinging delivery from Luke Ryan caused havoc in the Coola box resulting in a goal mouth melee. The quick- thinking Borja Rodriguez managed to find the ball with an outstretched toe- poke, rolling the ball into the bottom corner among a mass of bodies in the Coola box to leave the contest perfectly balanced at 2-2 heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter was characterised by stout defending by both teams as it became clear that neither defence were willing to provide their opponents with an easy chance to win this titanic tussle. It was clear that something special would be needed to claim the title. This special moment was emphatically provided by Owen Elding in the 68th minute. The Coola starlet streaked onto the end of a through ball into the left side of the Scoil Ruain box, Elding struck from an acute angle but the power and placement of the left- footed strike was perfect and the ball ripped into the right corner of the Scoil Ruain net in the blink of an eye.
Scoil Ruain pushed bravely up the field in the final ten minutes in search of parity once more but the Coola defence dug in and managed to grind out a nervous closing to the game to claim the title. It was an exciting ending that this truly enthralling final certainly deserved. Both schools brought hundreds of lively supporters that could all go home satisfied that regardless of the result the players from their side played with passion and brought great pride to their respective schools.
