Report from Kieran Crowley at Tallaght Stadium St. Patrick's Athletic lifted the SSE Airtricity U15 League title after a dramatic final victory over Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium. Jack O'Reilly's fantastic strike saw Pats take the lead early
Report from Kieran Crowley at Tallaght Stadium St. Patrick's Athletic lifted the SSE Airtricity U15 League title after a dramatic final victory over Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium. Jack O'Reilly's fantastic strike saw Pats take the lead early on before Dara McGuinness doubled their lead after the break. Sam Curtis pulled one back for the home side but the Richmond Park club held on to claim their second under-age league title in as many days. Buoyed from their U13 League title victory on Wednesday, Pats began the game on the front foot and deservedly took the lead in the 12th minute. O'Reilly found space just outside the area and after he turned onto his right, he fired home off the post. Rovers responded well and almost equalised just past the half-hour when Kevin Zeffi used tremendous trickery and skill to beat his defender on the byline, but his ambitious effort from a tight angle was well saved. Just before the break, O'Reilly almost grabbed his second of the game but could only direct his diving header from Dara McGuinness' cross wide of the target. Pats weren't to be denied however and 12 minutes after the break, McGuinness scored what proved to be the winning goal of the game. Captain Glory Nzingo found the perfect lofted-ball over the top to the onrushing McGuinness who calmly finished past Reece Byrne. The home side kept fighting to the very end of the match and got a goal back after Sean Carey Jones' 30-yard free-kick was tipped over the bar. From the resulting corner, a scramble in the box saw keeper Kian Clements drop the ball at the feet of Sam Curtis who tapped home with 20 minutes remaining. Rovers continued to press forward and in the 69th minute, Zeffi picked up the ball on the edge of the area from a quick free-kick and jinked his way past three defenders before he fired narrowly over the bar. Zeffi was once again involved four minutes from time as his industry on the right supplied Zayd Abada who found a low cross but Michael Leddy's first-time effort was parried around the post by Clements. Substitute Kieran Cruise saw his 20-yard drive tipped over the bar in the final moments of the game as Pats went on to celebrate their second under-age title this week after a fantastic final at Tallaght Stadium. Shamrock Rovers: Reece Byrne (GK), Sean Carey Jones, John Ryan, Eric Abidere (Roland Olakanye 80), Sam Curtis, Ben Curtis (C), Eureal Abidoye (Alex Conlon 51), Zayd Abada, Edwin Agbaje (Kieran Cruise 72), Kevin Zeffi. Subs: Carl Lennox, Cian Curtis, Emmanuel Milongo, Noah Jauny. St. Patrick's Athletic: Kian Clements (GK), Gerard Killane, Craig King, Aaron O'Reilly, Ian Byrne (Kelvin Burke 65), Glory Nzingo (C), Dara McGuinness, Tommy Lonergan, James Abankwah (Harvey Nugent 51), Kelvin Burke (Belguy Manzambi 50), Jack O'Reilly (Matthew Brennan 72). Subs: Sean Molloy (GK). Referee: David Gallagher Attendance: 608 Player of the Match: Sean Carey Jones (Shamrock Rovers)
