Wesley take senior honours over St Andrews

Wesley's seniors held on for victory in the first of potentially four ties with Leinster rivals St Andrew’s in this school's season but the All-Ireland champions were made to work much harder than previously anticipated.

St Andrew’s had yet to see their full potential with several injuries robbing them of a consistent line-up. Irish U-18 goalkeeper Stephen West and Leinster stars Conor Stephens and Shane O’Halloran were all absent once more but the return of David Cole was instrumental in a thriller in Ballinteer, netting a second half double and almost nabbing a point in the last minutes.

But Rob Fitzgerald stood strong to keep Wesley’s perfect record in tact and into pole-position in the senior league standings. The win last Friday was Wesley's second in three days following a 5-1 win over Kilkenny, spearheaded by Peter English's hat-trick.

But Andrews had done their homework and placed an extra man on the goal-line to deny English’s first effort; Rory Anderson the defender to block brilliantly.

Waves of Wesley attacks, though, eventually bore fruit. Tom Samuel and Alan White’s out-touch combination gave Luke Chadwick the chance and he rounded Cian Booth for the first half’s only goal.

The YM made it 2-0 in the second half with a fortuitous effort before Cole and English exchanged corners for 3-1 inside the last ten minutes.

But Andrews' finished much the stronger, forcing a goal-line save from David McCrea before Cole made it a one-goal game. Geoff Garrett, Cole, Richard Sykes and David Watkins all had chances but Rob Fitzgerald stood firm for a 3-2 win.

The two schools faced off in all four schoolboy age categories last week with honours shared. St Andrew’s moved to within touching distance of taking the U-13 title with a 5-1 win over their nearest rivals to make it five wins from five to date.

At minor level, Wesley were the victors with a dramatic 3-2 win in Ballinteer. Wesley had enjoyed the better of the first half but second half goals from Uilliam Blytham and Chris Wallace for Andrews set up a tense finish. The Saints were unable to convert from a series of late corners to give Wesley the initiative in the Minor A division.At junior level, a clear leader has yet to emerge as the pair drew 2-2.

High School has impressed in the B leagues. At junior level, they have recorded four wins from four, edging past John Scottus, Wesley Bs, Andrews’ Bs and King’s Hospital. Across the other three age groups – all at B level – they have lost just once this term.

Results
Senior A: Wesley 3 St Andrews 2; Wesley 5 Kilkenny 1
Senior B: High School 4 King’s Hospital 0; High School 2 Wesley B 0
Junior A: St Andrews 2 Wesley 2
Junior B: High School 3 John Scottus 0; High School 5 Wesley B 1; High School 3 St Andrews B 0
Minor A: Wesley 3 St Andrews 2; Mount Temple 0 Wesley 5
Minor B: High School 2 St Andrews B 1; St Killians 3 High School 1; Mount Temple 1 Wesley B 1; St Killians 0 Mount Temple B 4
U-13 A: St Andrews 5 Wesley 1
U-13 B: High School 4 St Columba’s 1; High School 5 Wesley B 1
U-13 C: Mount Temple B 1 St Pat’s, Donabate 5

* A report on the Wesley vs St Andrew's game will appear in Thursday's Evening Herald. If you have any fixtures or results from school's games, please let me know at stevie_findlats@yahoo.com.


** For more photos from Friday's game, click here