• 

  Academy

• Tuesday May 23rd, 2006 @ 12:01

ORCHARD TAKE McGRATH CUP

BEFORE AN EXPECTANT CROWD in Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin our under 16s fell at the final hurdle in their bid to capture the Paul McGrath Cup. A goalkeeping error and a wicked deflection put Pats two goals behind before the midway point of the first half.

After 15 minutes Cherry Orchard's Niall Fitzmaurice's long drive slipped through the goalkeeper's grasp giving the Cherries the lead. Colin Murray added a second - minutes later when his free kick deflected off a defender to wrong foot the keeper.

The Saints drove forward in search of a goal before the break and following good work down the left wing, Noel Haverty's was released to unleash a spectacular 30 yard rocket! However it crashed against the crossbar and away to safety.

Throughout the game the Saints kept moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other probing for an opening but repeatedly came up against a resolute Orchard defence.

With time rapidly running out the Orchard rear-guard was eventually breached as Robbie Hopkins gave Pats a glimmer of hope stabbing the ball home from close range.

A tense final 15 minutes followed but the Inchicore lads failed to find an equalising strike to take the game into extra-time.