St Eunan’s College turn on the style to reach FAIS Minor U-15 National Cup final

St Eunan’s College Letterkenny eased their way into the final of the FAI Schools Minor U-15 Boys National Cup with a top-class showing against St Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway.

Three goals from Mark McGuinness - the striker who also managed a hat-trick in St Eunan’s defeat of Carndonagh Community School 4-0 in the provincial decider - played a huge part, with Shai Thompson and Davin Kelly also getting on the scoresheet.

At Ray MacSharry Park in Sligo, the side managed by Paul Browne and Ollie Horgan turned on the style in the second half, after the first period ended 1-1. St Eunan's hit the woodwork four times in the match. 

St Eunan’s made a dream start with McGuinness finishing a move that saw Finn Nolan provide the assist after a fine ball from Thompson. However, the Connacht champions were level though second later when Tom Devlin tucked home as St Eunans failed to clear from a corner.

Despite that setback, St Eunan’s got back on top and hit the crossbar, to give voice to their travelling support, with the fans from the west initially making themselves heard.

At the start of the second half, the Letterkenny side again showed their intent and Cahair Daly hit the bar. At the other end, Cormac Crossan made good saves to deny Nolan and Jamie Corcoran shot over the top.

On 46 minutes, McGuinness put his team 2-1 in front when Conor Lynskey had got behind a Thomspon shot, although battened down the hatches for a spell to keep that lead intact. On the hour-mark, from Donal McBride’s throw-in, Nolan flicked on and Thompson made it three when McGuinness had laid on the chance.

It was McGuinness who scored the next goal, six minutes from time when he latched onto a poor defensive header to round Lynskey and make the score 4-1. The victory was completed in the last minute when Kelly’s shot left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot and St Eunan’s.

St Eunan’s: Cormac Crossan; Cathal Daly, Donal McBride, Blake Merideth, Jonah Cannon; Ryan Buckley, Davin Kelly, Adam Rodgers, Shai Thompson; Mark McGuinness, Finn Nolan. Subs: Zack Gallagher, Temple Akpo, Ryan Toye, Adam Dwyer, Max McKeever, Oisin Higgins, Matthew McGinley.
St Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway: Conor Lynskey; Callum Oliver, Eoghan Hoban, Shane Fahy, Eoghan Quirke; Ivor Aemkiv, Shane Rafter, Alan Corcoran, Abdul Ahad Hameed Ali; Tom Devlin, Jamie Corcoran. Subs: Evan McLaughlin Flaherty, Abdul Alschafi, Darragh O’Connor, Charlie Garvey, Jamie Cunningham, Shay Cullen, Fionan O’Connell.