De La Salle Grab North Leinster Glory!
FAI Schools North East League U-19 Division One Final
De La Salle College, Dundalk 2
Pobalscoil Chiarain, Kells 1
Muireadach's Park, Albion Rovers FC, Monasterboice - Monday 25th January 2010

De La Salle College grabbed senior league glory for the first time since 2001 in this pulsating encounter at Monasterboice. Goals from Christopher Lawson & Patrick Reilly sealed the title for the Dundalk school, the culmination of a long & arduous League campaign that commenced in October.
The game started in a frenetic fashion, with no real pattern of play settling. It took ten minutes before the game had its opening goal opportunity, with Daniel Kerr & Leo Gallagher combining well on the right hand side to set up a half-chance for Reilly, which was snuffed out by a resolute Kells defence.
De La Salle dominated the remaining exchanges, with Kevin O'Hanlon & Andrew Hurley carving out further openings & Lawson safely shackling Sami Obembe, Kells main creative influence.
The breakthrough came on 23 minutes. Excellent work by Conor Culligan & Barry Carr released Reilly down the right hand side, where he was fouled by an onrushing Kells defender. Lawson's sweet left foot deftly despatched the 25-yard free kick to the top left hand corner of the net, rewarding De La Salle's dominance.
The goal knocked the wind out of Kells & further chances were created by Kerr, O'Hanlon, Reilly & Carr. It was in the 40th minute that Kells threatened the De La Salle goal for the first time, with Robert Sansom saving with his feet from a Kells attack.
The second half opened with Kells resolutely attempting to draw level & the equaliser came just three minutes into the second half. Sloppy defending allowed Kells a free kick close to the left backline & the deftly floated free kick evaded Sansom & the De La Salle defence alike, before being headed home by a Kells attacker.
The game now turned into an end-to-end encounter, with both sides created chances, as fatigue & a heavy pitch combined to affect the contest. The De La Salle defence of Darren Meehan & Rian Hand remained firm, whilst Carr, O'Hanlon & substitutes Gerard McSorley & Michael Keane worked hard to create openings.
The decisive breakthrough came on 75 minutes. Kerr was released on the right wing & sent a rapier-like 40 yard pass across field to the tireless Reilly. Reilly dragged his marker to the left of the goal before carefully placing his shot to the right of the defender & the keeper. It was an exquisite finish to an exquisite move & a winning goal fitting of any final.
Both sides created chances as the game ran out & Sansom performed one miraculous full length save late in the game to keep Kells out. A resolute & determined De La Salle held on to record it's 12th FAI Schools North East League title & its 5th in the Senior competition. Manager Declan McGrath, celebrating his 6th North East League title as manager, praised the skill, spirit & efforts of his players after the game.
De La Salle College go forward to represent the North East region in the FAI Schools Leinster Champions League, which will commence in early March. The Champions League competition draws together the winners of the eight regional Leinster League competitions in a knock-out format & is second only to the Umbro All-Ireland Cups in importance in Leinster schools soccer.

Team: Robert Sansom, Conor Culligan, Christopher Lawson, Rian Hand, Darren Meehan, Daniel Kerr, Leo Gallagher (Captain), Barry Carr, Andrew Hurley, Patrick Reilly, Kevin O'Hanlon.
Substitutes: Gerard McSorley for O'Hanlon, Michael Keane for Gallagher, Michael Ololuo for Reilly, Jamie Kelly, Brendan McGuinness.
Squad: Daragh Connolly, Adam Coburn, Liam Ferguson, Padraig Kelly, Conor Moran, Dean Shiel.
Manager: Declan McGrath