Duncan Fox put the finishing touch to a penalty corner on the final hooter to snatch a 1-0 victory for St Andrew's over Wesley in the all-Dublin decider of the Irish Schools Championship at Grange Road yesterday.
It was the first time that St Andrew's carried off the Tasmanian Shield. The absorbing game seemed set for extra time when Gareth Watkins (who notched a hat-trick in the semi-final defeat of Cookstown)made a last-ditch thrust to earn the corner and from the set-piece he switched the ball for Fox to slot home the dramatic winner.
Wesley, with an accomplished midfield trio in Phelie Maguire (player of the match), Andrew Walker and Rowan Pearson, had created by far the greater number of scoring chances. The short-corner count was 13-9 in their favour but it was to no avail, in addition to which they were foiled in open play by fine goalkeeping by Andrew Griffen and also by a valuable clearance off the line by Philip Scollard from Mark Good at the start of the second half.
In the semi-finals, St Andrew's fought back from 2-0 arrears to defeat Cookstown 4-2 while Wesley beat the holders Ashton 2-1.
ST ANDREW'S: A Griffen; I Horsfield; D Fox, P Scollard, S Prentice; A Kenny, C Black (capt), A McFarlane; P Balbirnie, G Watkins, R McFarlane. Sub: S Allen.
WESLEY: M Harkin; C Sargeant, A Blennerhassett, N Lyons, M Maguire; P Maguire, A Walker (capt), R Pearson; P Blakeney, M Good, C Wilson. Subs: S Smyth, D McMillan.
Umpires: J O'Connor, D Mac Nally.
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