Leinster Champions

With ninety eight students putting their names down for trials this was always going to prove a very interesting season indeed. Of course, as always, the FAI Schools were going to try their best to cause complete confusion throughout. The two competitions the team entered were the "Under 13 First Year North East League" and the "Under 14 First Year Leinster Cup". The fact that there was a difference of Age Limit for these two competitions proved very puzzling as three unfortunate members of the squad found themselves only a matter of days too old for the former. However, this group of players were not going to let anything prevent a successful year.

The Leinster Cup
ROUND ONE: COLAISTE RIS, DUNDALK 1 - DE LA SALLE 17
A memorable season began with a game whose final score not many will ever forget. The match originally scheduled for November was eventually fulfilled on January 17th. Indeed the date would have an added significance as it reflected the incredible scoreline recorded on that day. Despite a close start to the match, De La Salle soon got into their stride and by half-time had amounted a 10-0 lead. The second half saw some substitutions but no let up in the work rate as a 17-1 "Away" victory was recorded by the final whistle. Goalscorers: James Dunne (4), Adam O'Connor (3), James Renaghan (3), Sean Murray (2), Anton Reilly (2), Anthony Lines (1), Michael O'Connor (1), Liam Keenan (1).

ROUND TWO: DE LA SALLE 8 - ST. MARY'S COLLEGE, DROGHEDA 1
The second round match was another Louth derby that proved to be an enjoyable outing for the men from the north of the county. A reshuffle in selection had to be made ten minutes before kick-off as neither goalkeeper was able to play through injury and illness respectively. Michael O'Connor volunteered to stand between the sticks and, apart from one early lapse, proved a worthy replacement. The scoreline at half time read 3-0 to the home team but when a goal was pulled back early in the second half the game was hanging in the balance. However, five goals in the last twenty minutes meant that there was only one team who would advance to the next round. Goalscorers: Anton Reilly (2), James Renaghan (2), Anthony Lines (1), Adam O'Connor (1), Oisin Murray (1), John McNally (1).

ROUND OF LAST SIXTEEN: DE LA SALLE 5 - LAYTOWN 1
The draw was favourable giving De La Salle home advantage against their Meath counterparts. Indeed this advantage was driven home as two early goals from Anthony Lines established control for the home team before the visitors could find their feet. While Anthony Lines completed his hat-trick in somewhat controversial circumstances (he tapped the ball home from a yard out when it was destined to go in from Anton Reilly's shot!) there was nothing controversial about his fourth. He ran on to a through ball and from all of thirty five yards arrowed home a sweet strike to the bottom corner. Not to be outdone, Adam O'Connor weighed in with a super strike of his own when he lobbed the goalkeeper from twenty five yards to round off a solid victory. Goalscorers: Anthony Lines (4), Adam O'Connor (1).

QUARTER FINAL: DE LA SALLE 3 - ATHY 2
The quarter final presented an unusual scenario in the sense that De La Salle found themselves trailing in a match for the first time all season. An own goal halfway through the first period was cancelled out by a superb solo effort from James Renaghan cutting in from the left wing and deftly lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. However, on the stroke of half time a wonder strike meant the visitors had a 2-1 lead at the break. A superb through ball from James Dunne with twenty minutes left allowed James Renaghan to hone in on goal in a similar fashion to his first half strike but this time he kept his effort low to slot into the bottom corner of the net. With five minutes remaining, substitute Michael O'Connor gathered the ball from a quickly taken corner by Sean Murray and curled his effort just out of the reach of the unlucky goalkeeper to settle the match. Goalscorers: James Renaghan (2), Michael O'Connor (1).

SEMI FINAL: DE LA SALLE 1 - LARKIN COLLEGE 0
Drogheda Town F.C. provided the neutral venue for the semi final against the highly fancied team from the capital. The opening stages of the match proved a quite tight affair with both defences standing quite steady in the face of any chances that were carved out by either team. However, the beginning of the second half produced the moment that would decide the match and send De La Salle to a Leinster Final. Sean Murray, who had a chance snuffed out only moments earlier, took control of the ball on the edge of the penalty area and let fly into the top corner of the net. However, it was Daniel Mulligan's last minute save from a well struck free kick that ensured the Louth men booked their place in the Leinster Cup Final. Goalscorer: Sean Murray.

FINAL: DE LA SALLE 2 - HARTSTOWN 1
A return to Drogheda Town's pitch on May 4th was delayed due to a mix up in dates by the Dublin team but the game was eventually rescheduled for Monday 9th May. De La Salle had a worrying start to the day when Anton Reilly failed to make the team meeting that morning. As it transpired, his Dad's car had suffered "a puncture" travelling the long distance from Fatima to the school. Rumours abounded that "a puncture" was in fact the collection of sausage rolls in Mace, but those rumours have not been qualified to date. Thankfully, Anton made it on time for the departure of the team bus.

As a way of apologising for worrying everyone, Anton opened the scoring on a historic day for De La Salle. He nodded home Sean Murray's pinpoint free kick with twenty minutes played to reap reward for the early domination by the Dundalk men. An excellent goal-line clearance from Oisin Murray just before what should have been half time kept the lead intact. However, confusion caused by the FAI Schools was to rear its ugly head again as the referee incorrectly played thirty five minutes instead of the stipulated thirty. In the thirty fourth minute, the equaliser arrived!

The De La Salle boys had to regroup and lift themselves for an extra long second half. Fifteen minutes had elapsed when Sean Murray delivered another troubling set-piece that the Hartstown goalkeeper was unable to hold. Unfortunately for the Dublin side, one of their defenders obliged where their keeper couldn't and the referee pointed to the spot. Interestingly, this was the first penalty in a game involving De La Salle all season and it was to prove decisive. Captain James Dunne stepped up to dispatch the kick that would eventually lead to his holding aloft the Leinster Cup.

However, a lot was to happen before that historic moment. Anton Reilly had two chances to put the game beyond doubt but was denied by superb goalkeeping. Sure enough, Hartstown had the opportunity to level in the thirty ninth minute of the half but thankfully the final effort of the match rebounded off the post and was cleared to the delight of the De La Salle fans. History had been made and De La Salle won the Leinster Cup for the first time ever! Goalscorers: Anton Reilly (1), James Dunne (1).

This result meant that De La Salle Dundalk would represent Leinster in the All Ireland National Cup. At the time of going to press, a Semi Final fixture against Munster representatives, De La Salle Waterford is scheduled for Thursday 12th May 2011.

The North East League
FIRST GROUP MATCH: DUNSHAUGHLIN 2 - DE LA SALLE 3
De La Salle travelled to Dunshaughlin in their first match of the North East League already having secured a place in the Leinster Cup quarter finals so confidence was brimming. Despite the poor surface, control of the game was established with an accurately struck free kick from the boot of James Dunne. Two well taken finishes from Anthony Lines in the second half looked to have put the result beyond doubt. A goal-line clearance from Sean Murray proved extremely important by the end of the match as the Meath men pressed and managed to score twice in the last seven minutes to set up a nervy finish. Thankfully, the referee's whistle came before an equaliser and three points were in the bag. Goalscorers: Anthony Lines (2), James Dunne (1).

SECOND GROUP MATCH: DE LA SALLE 2 - ST. MARY'S COLLEGE, DUNDALK 2
Several changes were made to the starting line-up for the local derby against the Marist and yet the team was not weakened to any great extent. A goal each from James Dunne and Michael O'Connor looked to have secured the victory only for a last minute free kick to deny De La Salle of maximum points. Goalscorers: James Dunne (1), Michael O'Connor (1).

THIRD GROUP MATCH: COLAISTE RIS vs. DE LA SALLE
The late cancellation of this fixture led to De La Salle winning top spot in their League group. At time of going to press they were awaiting the visit of Skerries in the North East League Semi Final.

First Year Squad: Ronan Bailey, Niall Breen, Kyle Cotter, James Dunne, Derick Ekwueme, Liam Keenan, Anthony Lines, Patrick McAuley, John McNally, Liam Molloy, Conor Morgan, Daniel Mulligan, Oisin Murray, Sean Murray, Adam O'Connor, Coilin O'Connor, Michael O'Connor, Anton Reilly, James Renaghan, Daniel Rice, Brendan Sheils, Adam Shields, Deane Watters.
Manager: Mr. Halpin
Assistant Manager: Mr. Staunton.