LEINSTER SENIOR SCHOOLS CUP FINAL:Tallaght CS 2 Naas CBS 1 TALLAGHT Community School clinched the Leinster title for the third time after a tense encounter at the Oscar Traynor Centre in Santry yesterday.
The late intervention of under-15 international Craig Palmer turned the tie in the Dublin side’s favour to help them capture the cup they had previously won in 1994 and 2005.
It was an unfortunate turn of events for Naas CBS, seeking their first success in the provincial schools football event. The Kildare side had taken an early lead through Eoin Messitt and had appeared to have the game in their control for much of the proceedings.
Messitt fired home from close range in the sixth minute after David Gahan knocked the ball down following a Ronan Doyle corner-kick.
As conditions deteriorated, neither goalkeeper was troubled for long periods although Tallaght striker Paddy Redmond was denied from a Dwayne McGill corner in the 27th minute.
Just a minute later Tallaght secured the equaliser they craved.
Impressive striker Alex Molloy was taken down in the Naas penalty area but defender Naoise Drewitt then stepped up himself to slot the spot-kick past goalkeeper Craig Hyland.
Paul McLaughlin tested Tallaght goalkeeper Owen Doherty in the 38th minute from distance but the strike lacked the venom to truly threaten.
Molloy was unlucky not to put Tallaght in front in first-half injury-time when he dragged his shot wide after bursting past Drewitt.
Naas were unfortunate not to regain the lead seven minutes into the second half when Gahan got a powerful header on a McLoughlin corner-kick but saw his attempt flicked over by Doherty.
Palmer’s introduction to the Tallaght attack proved to be a crucial intervention. The versatile Palmer, who has represented his school in basketball and Olympic handball, brought pace and poise to the Tallaght strike-force.
The substitute burst through onto a perfectly-weighted pass from Andrew O’Brien then composed himself before slotting the ball past the exposed Hyland with nine minutes left on the clock.
Gahan had a golden chance to level for Naas in the 84th minute but he misdirected his header wide from less than 10 yards out.
Tallaght were denied a third goal in the 87th minute when Hyland saved from Molloy then O’Brien’s hooked effort from the rebound bounced down off the underside of the crossbar before being cleared.
TALLAGHT CS:O Doherty; S Monaghan, C McCarthy, D Bermingham, D Mahon, D Campbell, R Humphries, D McGinn, P Redmond, A O'Brien, A Molloy. Subs: C Palmer for Humphries (64 mins), R Hughes for Redmond (85); C Burgess for McGinn (91).
NAAS CBS:C Hyland; B Kane, C O'Hagan, N Drewitt, D Kelleher, P McLoughlin, R Doyle, K Hanlon, D Gahan, E Messitt, D McGrath.
