By Joseph O'Regan
St.Peter’s Community School senior boys soccer team have qualified for their second All Ireland final in as many years after defeating Glenamaddy from Galway by one goal to nil on Tuesday 21st at Fairview Rangers Park Limerick.
The game was a repeat of last years All Ireland final, but this game was far from as one sided. Glenamaddy had very clear tactics from the outset, refusing to press in St.Peter’s half and waiting to engage at half-way. They were clearly well coached and carried out their plan expertly, breaking up St.Peter’s attacks and breaking quickly time and time again. Liam Quinn; who recently made his debut for Cork City, came close with a freekick in the early exchanges that was deflected wide, however after 20 minutes an exact replica of the early free kick resulted in a goal when Quinn fired through the wall into the top corner. Glenamaddy’s main threats were from well drilled sudden pressure on St.Peter’s defence which led to some nervy moments in their backline. Twice Jake Walsh in the St.Peter’s goal had to be alert when the opposition broke through and each time was in an excellent position to come out of his box and clear the danger.
In the second half the game opened up as Glenamaddy came out of their low block seeking an equaliser and the St.Peter’s attackers began to find more space with Rhema Mbakwe particularly impressive. As the game became more end to end Cobh Ramblers Brian Lenihan exerted his influence, doggedly breaking down counter attacks and calmly recycling the ball in the centre of the pitch. However with 20 minutes to go Rhema Mbakwe received a second yellow card for what the referee perceived as a dive near Glenamddy’s penalty box and suddenly St.Peter’s went from a position of control to hanging on by their fingernails.
The final 10 minutes were particularly nerve-wracking for supporters from Passage West has Glenamaddy were camped in St Peter’s half, sending a constant barrage of balls into the penalty area. The closet they came was from a corner which was headed over from two yard out. To the great credit of the St.Peter’s defence, they shut Glenamaddy out denying them a shot on target during this tense period. Courageous blocks in particular by Hugo Reco and the outstanding Tomas Hanlon roused the St.Peter’s players and kept Glenamaddy at bay. It was a tight, tense affair with few clear cut chances, nevertheless it was a performance of grit and ceaseless determination that showed just why St.Peter’s are reigning All Ireland Champions.
St.Peter’s have now won three munster finals in the past four years and will be seeking to make this back to back All Ireland’s when they face Leinster Champions Greenan College, Thomastown
on the 5th February at Cahir AFC.
Team: J.Walsh, J.Barry, T.Hanlon, S.Moynihan, G Nduwuba, B.lenihan, L.Quinn, H.Recio, R.Dalton, J.Nduwuba, R.Mbakwe. SUBS: S.Coughlan for J.Barry, J.Deasy, C.Taffe, A.Doyle, Z.O’Hanlon O’ Brien, R.Ortiz, O.O’Sullivan.
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