Rice College back in All-Ireland final after stellar semi-final victory

FAI Schools Tom Ticher National Junior Cup Semi Final

Rice College 4

J O'Malley '9 '40

S Popov '21

R Durkan '69

Abbey Vocational School 0

Oisín McGovern in Sligo

A third consecutive All-Ireland final beckons for Rice College’s U-17s after they landed an overwhelming semi-final victory this afternoon.

Abbey Vocational School from Donegal barely got a sniff as the Westport school ruled the artificial surface of Ray MacSharry Park from start to finish.

Three goals in the first half and two in the second ensured that Darragh Connolly’s side prevailed comfortably in a game that never caught fire as a contest.

Standout displays from Jack O’Malley and their back four were the hallmarks of a team that has laid down a serious marker for their final opponents.

O’Malley had them off the mark after only 11 minutes before Simeon Popov doubled their lead ten minutes later.

Abbey fended off scraps from the Rice College table and were dealt a further blow when O’Malley finished their third goal.

Rice College’s domination continued after half-time. Inevitably, the Abbey dam burst again, this time when substitute Rian Durkan volleyed home a rebound after captain Jamie O’Malley’s initial shot was saved.

Barely having broken a sweat, Rice College advanced to the final where they will meet the winners of Tramore’s Ardscoil na Mara and Portmarnock Community School.