Leinster 15s Champions League Semi Final
Donabate CC – 5
Arklow CBS – 1
The u15s boys football team travelled out to Wayside Celtics pitches to face Arklow CBS for their champions league semi-final. The boys were used to the pressure of such a big game as this was their second semi final they had reached in the current school year.
Donabate were playing into a very strong wind in the first half but despite this they nicked an early goal through Hugh Martin after just 5 minutes. Donabate had a few chances after to double their lead but were unable to do so and their missed chances came back to bite them when Arklow equalized with a header from a corner after 18 minutes.
Chances died down for the next twenty minutes as both sides just couldn’t seem to find the final pass in the last third to go ahead until, right on the stroke of half time, midfielder Tom McMahon swung in a corner that went straight over the Arklow goalkeeper’s head and into the back of net to put Donabate 2-1 up going into half time.
Donabate started the second half strongly making the most of the wind they now had in advantage. They dominated possession and finally found their third goal to give them a bit of a cushion when Sam Bukovec slotted home in the 57th minute. Hugh Martin added his second of the game five minutes later to all but seal the result. Donabate scored one more at the end of the game through Martin to book their spot in their second final of the school year winning the game 5-1.
The team take on St. Michaels in their Leinster Final this Thursday in Stella Maris FC at 11am. Best of luck to Captain Cillian Freel, the team and all involved! Thanks to Mr. Hopkins and Mr O’Meara for all their work with this team!
DCC: Joey Kelly, Cillian Freel, Paul De Bure, Rhys Tormey, Ben O’Donohoe, Tom McMahon, Lucas Dillon O’Dowd, Sean McCormack, Sam Bukovec, Daniel Shalapay, Hugh Martin, Mark Hughes, Charlie Farrell, Jacob Tucker, Eoin McCarthy, Ivano Samardzic, Sam Baird, Rob Fulham.
Report and photos by Harry Stenson and Andy Caswell, TY Journalism
