Chanel on the scent of Leinster final glory 

Tom McCarthy

CHANEL College’s Under 19s dethroned current Leinster champions Wexford in a titanic struggle at windswept Greystones to advance to the Leinster A Final. 

The Northside team started brightly playing their smooth passing game through midfield using a 4-3-3 formation. Two calamitous errors in marking at set pieces cost them dearly, though, and Chanel found themselves 2-0 down against the champions.

These Coolock, Kilmore and Darndale lads are made of stern stuff, however. 

Five minutes before half-time Shane Lyons played a beautiful diagonal ball to Dylan Clausen. Dylan controlled and rifled the ball home from inside the box.

The second half had barely started when Clausen repaid Lyons with an assist which Lyons finished with aplomb to make it 2-2.

The red and black of Chanel was on fire now. Franzoni, Jinad and O’Leary in midfield were composed and menacing in equal measure. Lyons fired Chanel into the lead when he cut in from the right and shot low.

Wexford were not Leinster champions for nothing and ground out a deserved equaliser in the final eight minutes.

Extra time was nervy with so much at stake. Something special was needed. 

It was Chanel’s rock of defence Alex Wilders who stepped up. He charged out of defence, played a deft exchange with Clausen, before thrashing the ball home from 10 yards. It was a moment to savour. 

Chanel’s defence had to withstand a late flurry of attacks. 

Ryan Boyd and Jordan Deegan were immense at full back. Cian Cooling and Wilders were rocks.

Chanel’s managers – both former pupils of the college – Brian McManus and Sam Sheridan, were very pleased with the heart and courage shown by all the squad.