Walker seals perfect day for Wesley

Hockey Leinster Schoolboys' Senior Cup finalIn what was the schools' fourth meeting in a row in the Leinster Senior Cup final at Grange Road, Wesley College beat St Andrew's for the third successive year, Geoff Walker hitting the winner five minutes from the end of extra-time in a thrilling game.

St Andrew's had been just two minutes away from victory in normal-time.

Heartbreak, then, for St Andrew's, not least for their under-18 international Jack Kirwan who has played in those three finals.

And it was his side that was on top for most of the first half, Kirwan, David Carson and Andrew Ward all forcing Wesley goalkeeper Ross Murray into saves but, having been outplayed for so long, it was Wesley who struck first, Kyle Good rounding Stephen West in the St Andrew's goal and slotting home just before the break.

Kirwan, though, brought St Andrew's level 11 minutes into the second half and after Ward had twice come close to deflecting long balls past West he made it 2-1, with just seven minutes to go, when he got a touch on the line on Kirwan's shot after his superb run down the right.

Game over? So it seemed, until Wesley, pouring forward in search of an equaliser, won a short corner in the 68th minute, and, after a smart switch right from Walker, captain David Robinson powered the ball home.

Robinson and James Dalrymple both had chances to snatch a winner at the death, with St Andrew's pinned back, but the game went to extra-time.

It was from another short corner that Wesley got the winner, Walker drilling a thunderous shot past West.

The victory completed a perfect day for Wesley as their minor team won their final against Kilkenny College.

Shane Madeley (two), Tom Samuel and Greg Hawe getting their goals in a 4-1 win - Billy Doran was Kilkenny's scorer.

WESLEY COLLEGE: R Murray, B Doherty, S O'Donnell, M English, D Scully, D Robinson (capt), K Smith, G Walker, R Pedreschi, J Dalrymple, K Good. Subs: K Chapple, G McCrave, L von Eickstedt, R Whelan, C Hennessy, C Osman.

ST ANDREW'S COLLEGE: S West, N Dee, K Kenning, C Spears, S Nolan, J Kirwan, A Nolan, S Lowrie (capt), D Carson, S Cole, A Ward. Subs: S Garrett, S Loughrey, N O'Keeffe, S O'Leary, R Watkins.

Umpires: C Bolger and I Bolger.

The Leinster Umpires Association announced last night that its dispute with Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club, which resulted in refusal to umpire matches involving the club, has been "successfully resolved to the satisfaction of all parties".