22 Dec Soccer Squad Crowned Leinster Champions
2017 was a successful year for the Colaiste Éanna U15 soccer. After losing the league final to a tough St Benildus team, Éanna re-grouped to make it to the Leinster final. The opponents on this occasion, Asbourne college, the setting, Balyousters new start of the art pitch in Kildare. It proved to be a scintillating game.
Éanna got off to a flying start with top scorer, Ogi Lovic scoring in the first few mintues. In spite of this Asbourne pulled one back almost immediately. Both teams were level at this stage and played some excellent football but there was nothing to separate them. Just before half time, adversity struck for the Éanna team when after jumping for a header, Alex Trofim landed on his ankle resulting in it snapping. The game had to be stopped for a long period of time and only resumed after Alex had been taken away in an ambulance.
The second half continued the same way as it finished with neither team able to score. After some fine top class saves from Eoghan Gannon, Paddy Quinn stepped up to get Éanna’s second. Éanna’s defense stayed strong for most of the second half until Asbourne’s skillful winger scored an outstanding bicycle kick just inside the box. The game was level again and for a long period of time, there was no shots troubling either keeper. It was late in the game when Éanna got a free-kick just inside Asbourne’s half. There was only one man taking that free-kick. Jack Curran stepped up with his vicious left foot and swung the ball left to right. With a lot of Éanna bodies waiting in the box for the delivery, it was Cathal Mullen who headed the ball home. This would be the final and deciding goal in the game and would see Éanna crowned Leinster Champions on a great day in front of all their supporters who had traveled to the game!
