- St. Stephen's De La Salle BNS

The match was a thrilling encounter between two heavyweights from the Waterford Primary Schools' Football League in St. Stephen's and Mount Sion. This was always going to be a hard game for both schools. Played in warm sunshine on the back pitch at the RSC, home of Waterford United, a great game followed. St. Stephen's started the game very brightly, forcing Mount Sion back into their own half. Some fine passing drew a foul about 20 yards from goal, and captain Dylan Stickel stepped up and placed the ball just inside the post beyond the keeper's reach to give his team the lead. Mount Sion responded well but a well drilled back line made sure there was no way through for the boys in blue.

More excellent defending set St. Stephen's off on a quick counter, when Noah Aimiuhi took the ball along the end line and then finished in emphatic fashion to double the lead for his team!

Again, the opposition responded well and pushed St. Stephen's back but this team were determined to do well. The game ebbed and flowed before another devastating counter attack from St. Stephen's saw Conor Rea net a 3rd goal for his team and give a half time lead of 3-0.

St. Stephen's were comfortable going into the 2nd half, but this was an excellent Mount Sion team in front of us. A period of intense pressure followed with a number of outstanding saves being needed from Jack O'Rourke in goal. The pressure eventually told with Mount Sion pulling a goal back. But this St. Stephen's team are something special, and some outstanding play from the entire team saw Josh Kelly net a fourth and put the game beyond Mount Sion. It had been a hard fought win against a  very, very good team.

That result means that St. Stephen's qualified for the Jack Kennedy Cup Final, where we will face Scoil Lorcáin. Watch for news of that soon!