Emotional day as De La Salle win Eoin Burke Cup
The De La Salle squad celebrate their win over Villa in the U-12B Cup Final at Graun Park on Monday last. Photos: Paul Elliott.
De La Salle captured the Eoin Burke Under 12B Cup after defeating Villa at Graun Park on Monday last. It was emotional for the De La Salle management, players and the Burke family but they had no need to worry as Eoin Burke was certainly looking down on them as they ran out comfortable winners on the day.
It was the eventual winners who carved out the first attack after four only minutes of play. Derrin Flynn won the ball in midfield and played the ball into the feet of Darragh Caulfield whose shot on the turn was well saved by Villa keeper Theo Supek.
Minutes later Caulfield was back in the action as he took control of the ball in the box but he shot just over the bar. De La Salle went close again on 12 minutes. Nathan Solomon took on the Villa defence and crossed for Louis Daly but Supek raced from his line to save. From the resulting corner-kick by Daly the ball fell to Joey Kirby but his header cleared the crossbar. Villa then put pressure on the De La Salle defence as they forced three corner-kicks in a row. The third flag kick by Tomas Demer found the head of Mason Roe but Josh Cullen in the De La Salle goal made a wonderful fingertip save.
On 17 minutes De La Salle took the lead. James Hall played the ball over the top for Louis Daly and his cross caused confusion in the Villa defence and Nathan Solomon pounced to score from close range. Villa hit back with some counter attacking moves but it was De La Salle who made two nil just before half-time. Darragh Caulfield got behind the Villa defence and his cross was finished off at the near post by Daly.
At the start of the second period it was De La Salle who continued to attack. This meant that Villa had to defend in numbers with goalkeeper Supek, centre back Samuel Beckel and Luke Forrestal defending brilliantly.
On 42 minutes another De La Salle attack as a pass from Harry Dalton set up Joey Kirby but Supek in the Villa goal made another cracking save.
The goal that secured victory for De La Salle came on 56 minutes. Joey Kirby lined up a free kick 20 yards from goal. His shot flew past the Villa keeper and into the net off the underside of the crossbar. After the final whistle Paul Burke presented the runners up medals to Villa and Craig Burke presented the winners medals, Deirdre Burke then proudly presented the Eoin Burke Under 12B Cup to a delighted De La Salle captain Robbie McCarthy.
Josh Cullen, Nathan Soloman, Darragh Caulfield, James Hall, Derrin Flynn, Robbie McCarthy, Harry Dalton, Christon Robinson, Broady Cambell, Joey Kirby, Noah Kieby, Connor Doyle Louis Daly, Jayden Power, Denis Ororoceanu.
Theo Supek, Luke Forrestal, Henry McGrory, Sam Power, Samuel Beckel, Finn Hayden, Mason Roe, Darragh McCaffery, Tomas Dermer, Gabriel Santos, Miguel Saniago, Archie Kelly, Robert Bourke, Michael Quinn, Bailey O’Reilly.
Brian Bartley. Assisted by Paddy Lawlor and Ricky Fletcher.
