Omagh CBS lads hold their nerve to claim crown after penalty shoot-out drama

OMAGH CBS under-16s were crowned NI Schools’ Cup champions after they defeated Belfast Boys Model School at the Blanchflower Stadium, Belfast in the final last Wednesday.

They had to come through an absolute nail-biter, which finished 2-2 after extra-time, and had to be settled on penalties, in which the Omagh boys held their nerve to win 5-4.

The CBS travelled to Belfast to take on their illustrious counterparts having not lost a single match since they were defeated at the quarter-final stage of the NI Schools’ Cup in Year 8. The boys won the under-13 Schools’ Cup in 2019 and reached the final at U14 level in 2020, only to see the trophy shared as Coronavirus took hold.

Despite this unbeaten record stretching back to 2018, the local boys were still touted as underdogs as they travelled to their opponent’s backyard bidding to make it ‘three in a row’.

Two goals from Charlie Donnelly, five clinical penalties and a penalty save from Aidan Colton saw the trophy travel west to the CBS.

The Boys Model had the first opening less than a minute in as their frontman was found with a yard of space eighteen yards out but he blazed over.

The CBS responded minutes later as some excellent work from captain Callum Daly on the halfway line released Ben Kelly but his shot was well saved before Donnelly was denied by the Belfast keeper and from the resulting counter-attack Colton was forced into an excellent save low to his left.

The CBS took the lead on eight minutes as Kelly and Paudi Dillon played a neat one-two in midfield to allow Kelly to surge towards the penalty box before he squared for Donnelly. The frontman still had a lot to do as he took a touch before swivelling and firing low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The game then burst into life in the dying minutes of the half. First, the Model fired agonisingly wide from a tight angle before Kelly collected an excellent pass from Nathan Farry to outpace two defenders and fire a shot from the edge of the penalty area only to see his effort well saved.

In first half stoppage time the Model got their reward as a corner was nodded down at the back post and poked home to level the scores.

The second half was a much better spectacle in terms of football as the CBS looked more composed on the ball as they moved it around the pitch and five minutes into the half an excellent passing move involving Tom Gavin, Brian Gallagher and Paudi Dillon saw Donnelly receive the ball in the penalty box and he made no mistake to put his side in front.

The Model responded quickly and the lead lasted less than four minutes as the CBS were outdone by another set-piece.

The Omagh men responded well to the setback and were playing their best football of the game with Donnelly having a volley well saved.

The Model were always dangerous from set-pieces and Colton had to be alert to tip over a volley from the Model striker but neither side could find a way through as the match finished two each after 90 minutes.

The only chance of note during extra-time fell to Dillon on the edge of the box, but his sweetly struck volley was well saved by the Model netminder as the final whistle sounded soon after.

The game would be decided on penalty kicks and the Omagh boys showed nerves of steel to convert their first four penalties. Colton made himself the hero as he produced an excellent save to stop the Model’s fifth, allowing captain Daly to coolly stroke home the winning penalty to send the enthusiastic support into raptures.

A truly momentous occasion for the CBS boys and one that will live long in the memory of the players, and the supporters who travelled to Belfast, as they brought the NI School’s Cup back to Omagh.

Omagh CBS: Aidan Colton, Ruariri McCullagh, Charlie McCrory, Nathan Farry, Dillon Chism, Brian Gallagher (Sean Broderick), Callum Daly, Paudi Dillon, Ben Kelly, Tom Gavin, Charlie Donnelly. Subs not used: John Edgar, Jack Law, Reece McAleer, Oisin Teague, Malachy McGurren, Nathan McGlinchey, Conor Pritchard