Bish boys come up trumps

St Joseph’s College 3

Wexford CBS  0

ST Joseph’s College (the Bish) claimed the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools First Year Boys National Cup title last Wednesday with a comprehensive victory over newcomers Wexford CBS in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore.

As a result of the win, Robert Grealish and Barry McDermott’s side will represent the Republic of Ireland at the Home Nations Tournament in Scotland next season as winners of this year’s FAI Schools National Cup. The Bish will face the school champions of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in May 2018.

They began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Calasanctius College, Oranmore in their regional group, and the two sides met again in the Connacht semi-final, which The Bish won 4-1.

That set-up a Connacht final against a Summerhill Sligo side which had beaten The Bish on their way to winning the Irish Futsal title in December, but goals from Rory O’Brien, Liam Melody, and Gary Higgins sealed a 3-1 win for the city side.

They were drawn against the Ulster champions in the national semi-finals, and they eased into the decider on a 5-0 scoreline thanks to goals from Darragh O’Malley (2), Luke O’Gorman, Melody, and Higgins to advance to the final against a Wexford CBS side which featured six starting players from the Wexford Football League’s Kennedy Cup side, but the Bish defied the tag of underdogs to claim the title.

An O’Malley goal five minutes from the break, and second-half goals from O’Gorman and Conall Gallagher sealed the first success at this age grade for The Bish since 2011.

The Connacht champions started positively and the versatile Wexford keeper Cian Roche kept his side in contention early on when he was alert to some Bish attacks.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.