Mayo school reaches national final with emphatic last four victory

Defending champions Rice College are back in the FAI Schools Tom Ticher Junior (Under 17, Large Schools) National Cup final thanks to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Abbey Vocational School, Donegal, in Ray MacSharry Park, Sligo, this afternoon.

The opening goal came as early as the 11th minute when Jack O'Malley took possession in the penalty area, swivelled neatly and executed a good low finish to the bottom right corner past Abbey VS 'keeper Lewis McLaughlan.

Ten minutes later Simeon Popov doubled Rice College's lead after Abbey VS failed to clear the ball in the area.

With Tom McGeough and Darragh Reynolds steady at the back, Rice College were rarely threatened and coped well with Abbey's tactic of getting the ball forward early towards Eoghan Gallagher for a flick-on to try and get Jack Glapa free in behind.

In injury time at the end of the first half, McGeough delivered a great pass into Jack O'Malley's path in the Abbey penalty area and the bustling striker produced a super finish to make it 3-0 at the break.

The second half was a more pedestrian affair, with Rice College largely in control despite giving up possession to their Donegal opponents.

The best Abbey could muster were a few half-chances and in reality, Rice College 'keeper Michael McDonnell had a quiet afternoon.

The icing on the cake was a fourth goal scored by substitute Rian Durkan with 11 minutes left on the clock, leaving Rice College comfortable winners on the day.

Remarkably, it's a third national Under 17 final in a row for the Westport school. Having made up for the 2022 defeat last year, the challenge now will be to secure back-to-back titles when they face either Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore, or Portmarnock Community School in next month's decider.

*See next week's print edition for more on Rice College's victory over Abbey VS