Schoolboys soccer/Leinster Senior Cup final/ Tallaght CS 3; St Brendans, Bray 0: Three goals from dead-ball situations saw Tallaght Community School crowned provincial champions in yesterday's Leinster Schools' Senior Cup final against St Brendan's, Bray in Baldonnel.
This was their second Leinster under-18 title under manager Seamus Whoriskey, who guided them to success in 1994.
Tallaght played a 4-1-4-1 formation with the impressive Alan Healy holding it together in front of the back four. He was part of a Tallaght midfield that produced a hard-working and efficient display in the second half.
That said, they suffered an early setback when lone striker Gary Humphries was forced to retire injured with just eight minutes gone.
And while there was no real flow to the game early on, St Brendan's were in the ascendancy. They had two early chances through Omar Taha and Derek Jenkins in a dominant period for the Bray side.
St Brendan's had a glorious opportunity midway through the half when James McLaughlin managed to slip through the Tallaght defence.
But McLaughlin, with the goalkeeper to beat, could only direct his shot straight at Karl Coleman.
To make matters worse for St Brendan's, Tallaght, who had hardly been in the game, struck just before the break.
The goal came following a rash challenge on Alan Healy just inside the penalty area.
Referee Paul Tuite immediately pointed to the spot, with Gary McCabe converting the penalty with a simple enough shot beyond Andy O'Neill.
There was nothing ordinary about McCabe's second strike five minutes after the interval. Tallaght were awarded a free-kick from what seemed a harmless position inside the left touchline. But McCabe found the back of the net with an astonishing drive which dipped over the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
St Brendan's fought back, with Derek Jenkins coming close shortly afterwards.
With 20 minutes remaining, St Brendan's were awarded a penalty, but Karl Coleman saved superbly with his feet to deny Brendan Barton.
Tallaght wrapped it up in the 78th minute when from McCabe's corner, Alan McCormac headed home from a central position.
TALLAGHT CS: Coleman, Kavanagh, Johnston, McCormac, Nicholl, Healy, McGill, Ward, McCabe, Hopper, Humphries. Subs: McLaughlin for Humphries (8 mins), Costigan for Hopper (60 mins), Sullivan for Kavanagh (88 mins).
ST BRENDAN'S BRAY: O'Neill, McDonald, Forsythe, McNicholas, Flynn, Jenkins, Taha, Moore, McLaughlin, Barton, J Douglas. Subs: Gregory for McLaughlin (half-time), A Douglas for Flynn (60 mins), R Clucas for J Douglas (70 mins).
Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).
