Leinster champion Offaly school lose out in All Ireland semi-final

Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara lost out in the semi-final of the FAI Schools John Murphy Senior B National Cup on Thursday just two days after they had won the Leinster Final.

FAI Schools John Murphy Senior ‘B’ National Cup Semi Final (Under 19, Small Schools)

St. Peter’s CS, Passage West 6

Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara 1

It was an incredibly busy week for the Clara school who only claimed the Leinster title on Tuesday with an extra-time win over Gaelcholaiste na Mara where a late goal sealed the provincial title.

With only a two day turned, and despite a determined effort, they lost out to St Peter's CS Passage West in the All Ireland semi-final.

Ard Scoil had the perfect start to proceedings four minutes in when Issac Ryan converted a peach to the near post to set them up nicely.

Six minutes later, St. Peter’s came close to the equaliser as Kristian O’Callaghan’s glancing header at the far post from a Huge Recie corner went wide of the upright. 

St. Peter’s experienced a purple patch midway through the half with three goals inside three minutes.

Eoghan Farrell had the sides level with 18 minutes played when he converted in fine style.

Passage West took the lead two minutes later when Rhema Mbakowe struck from a Darragh Lehane throw-in on the left flank.

Mbakowe’s second and St. Peter’s third came a minute later with a smashing effort from distance.

With twenty minutes remaining, Kit O’Keeffe’s team grabbed a fourth through Kristian O’Callaghan.

Their fifth came ten minutes later when Mbakowe got his hat-trick.

The Munster side led 5-1 at the interval.

Clara had a much better second half as they contained a lot of the Cork threat.  

Hugo Recie hit the crossbar over the hour mark while Eoghan Farrell came close at the far post.

Substitute Ryan Dalton had a few darting runs down the right wing with some delightful balls into the box but there was no one in position to capitalise.

St. Peter’s sixth came late on when Ryan McInerney pounced.

A stunning performance from the Munster Champions as they dominated for long periods of the game.

 ST. PETER’S CS, PASSAGE WEST | Edurdo Bessane, Liam Quinn, Darragh Lehane, Scott Moynihan, Darragh McCarthy, Hugo Recio, Mark Lester, Brian Linehan, Eoghan Farrell, Rhema Mbakowe, Kristian O’ Callaghan

SUBS USED | Jaime Nduwdh for O’Callaghan (65), John Deasy for Mbakowe (65), Ryan Dalton for Farrell (75), Tomas Hanlon for Lester (75), Eoghan McInerey for Recie (75)

SUBS NOT USED | Sean Coughlan, Golding Nduwudh, Josh Horan

TEACHER | Kit O’Keeffe

ARD SCOIL CHIARÁIN NAOFA, CLARA | Liam Flynn, Ronan Totey, Dylan Carroll, Myles Handy, Kevin Minnout, Scott Griffith, Aaron Kelly, James Cullen, Dylan Deehan Kavanagh, Issac Ryan, Keever Kelly

SUBS USED | Christian McKeown for Kelly (51), Callum Bracken for Deehan Kavanagh (60), Evan Cronin for Ryan (72), Greg Byrne for Carroll (72), Ben Bracker for A Kelly (78)

SUBS NOT USED | Jamie Larkin, Brian Buckley

TEACHER | Aaron Kirwan

MATCH OFFICIAL | Mark Jordan (Tipperary)