Rice College soccer team to face Dublin school in All-Ireland final

RICE College’s U-19 soccer team will face Dublin’s Blackrock College in an All-Ireland final next week. 

The Westport school reached the FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup Final after a dramatic late extra-time win over St Paul’s Community College of Waterford yesterday (Monday).  

Substitute Simeon Popov forced extra time with a goal in the depths of injury time before Rian Durkan secured Rice’s victory in the 103rd minute. 

Rice College have blazed a trail in schools soccer in recent times and are contesting their third All-Ireland in two years. 

The school claimed the U-17 FAI Schools Tom Ticher Junior National Cup in 2023 when they defeated  St Mary’s CBS of Enniscorthy 3-2. 

Last year, their U-17s were back in the final again but lost 1-0 to Portmarnock Community School. 

Many of that team will feature in next week’s U-19 All-Ireland final, where they will face Dublin’s Blackrock College - who are renowned for their rugby team and have produced numerous Irish internationals. 

The FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup Final between Rice College of Westport and Blackrock College of Dublin takes place on Wednesday, March 12 in Athlone Town AFC at 1pm.