St Mary's College 2

Salesian College 1

LEINSTER champions Salesian College dramatically lost out to Galway's St Mary's College in the All-Ireland Senior final thanks to a last-gasp strike.

The Celbridge secondary school looked like they had earned a penalty shootout against their Connacht rivals in the year's showpiece at Flancare Park after the game ended 1-1 in normal time but Mary's stunned the Kildare boys at the death.

Salesian were on the other end of an identical situation six days earlier when Brian Banyo's strike in the final minute of extra time in the national semi-final saw them past Donegal's Carndonagh CS.

Last Thursday's final in Longford looked set to be the perfect send off for one of the most talented groups in the Kildare school's history but St Mary's spoiled the party.

Striker Tony Ward was the hero on the day as his late finish earned the Galway outfit their fourth title at this level.

It was the Leinster side who began the brighter, however, when midfielder Michael Brown went close with a curling free kick in the opening stages.

Goalkeeper Ronan Burke did well to deny Brown's effort and at the other end his opposite number, Shane McNamara, saved well from Fiach O'Barra.

Shane Maughan and Sean Glynn both had good opportunities to give their side the lead before the interval but St Mary's were unable to break down the Salesian defence in the opening half.

Shane Keogh's free kick looked to have given the latter the perfect opportunity to open the scoring on the half-hour mark but he was way off target with his finish.

Ireland schools captain Tomas Boyle responded for Salesian with his trademark aerial threat but he could not direct Colm Smyth's cross into the net.

Michael O'Grady was unlucky to miss-hit an effort from just outside the area as the Celbridge school imposed their fluid style of play on the opposition but they could not take advantage of a buoyant spell.

Within a minute of the restart, Glynn headed St Mary's in front when he connected with captain Barry McEntee's cross from the right wing.

Salesian are not Leinster champions for nothing, though, and they responded positively through Conway's near miss at the other end. When striker Banyo crashed a shot off the crossbar soon after, O'Grady was quickest to react and levelled the scores.

The game looked set for a penalty shootout after extra time came and almost went, but Mary's fashioned one more chance before the end and Ward made no mistake from close range.

Salesian College: Shane McNamara, Gavin Kane, Patrick Markey (capt), Tomas Boyle, Michael ILunga, Michael O'Grady, Colm Smyth, Michael Brown, Kevin Molloy, Brian Bonyo, Fergal Conway. Subs: Craig Phillips for ILunga (50), Eoghan Markey for Molloy (65).

St Mary's College: Ronan Burke, Shane Gallagher, Eoin Walsh, James Casserly, Shane Keogh, Christian Lomboto, Fiach O'Bearra, Barry McEntee (capt), Sean Glynn, Shane Maughan, Tony Ward. Sub: Ruairi Lavelle for O'Bearra (104).

referee: Paul Tone (Athlone).

- Gavin Earley