Page 55 - royal-times-17-18

Match 5: Royal 2 - 3 PCC Falcarragh (Ulster schools out. However the Royal refused to lie down and Palmer did
cup semi-final) get one back, but unfortunately the clock ran out and the
RSC U17 team travelled to Ballyshannon to play PCC team exited the Ulster cup at the semi-final stage.
Falcarragh in the Ulster Schools Cup Semi Final. This was a Match 6: Royal 5-0 St. Mogues, Bawnboy. (Cavan
difficult task as Falcarragh are a much larger school, and it Monaghan U17b League final)
was made more difficult as we had to travel without 4 of our
squad due to exam commitments and sickness. See separate report:
Nevertheless the Royal team put in a great display in a match U17 Goal Scorers
which ebbed and flowed. Mark Stewart put the Royal one Mark Stewart 4
up when he powered a header to the roof of the net from
a great corner from Aaron Heaslip. Minutes later Heaslip Aaron Heaslip 4
managed to wriggle through the Donegal defence, but the Nick Palmer 3
keeper pulled off a great save to prevent a 2 goal lead. Then Kelvin McNally 3
just on the stroke of half time Falcarragh equalised from a Joshua Ajayi 2
nice move to make it 1-1 at the break.
Hendrick Risch 1
In the second half Falcarragh took the lead in controversial
circumstances as the Royal felt keeper Michael McKeon RSC U17 season 2017/18 Statistics
Boyle was fouled, and as a result he dropped the ball and
it was tapped home. The Royal continued to compete and Played Won Drawn Lost Goals Goals
Nick Palmer rattled a shot off a post before the task was for against
made more difficult when a Falcarragh player ran past 3 6 4 1 1 17 7
defenders and hit a drive into the top corner from 25 yards

THE ROYAL DOMINATE THE U17 FINAL TO WIN THE OVERALL LEAGUE TITLE!

The U17 RSC football team capped a great
year in fine style by winning the league final
against St. Mogues, Bawnboy in Mid-April.
It was a fitting season finale for a team who
have grown and improved throughout their
time together. They dominated this game and
eased to victory, despite only managing a
draw with the same opposition earlier in the
season.

The game was played in very breezy
conditions and the Royal won the toss and
elected to play against the wind in the 1 half.
st
This meant they were under pressure in the
first half and 10 minutes in they conceded
a penalty as Stuart Smyth handled the ball
close to the Royal goal line. There was no
argument about the decision, and up stepped U17b Cavan Monaghan Champions 2017-18
the Bawnboy player. He placed the ball low
and hard to the keeper’s right, but Michael McKeon Boyle
dived to save it brilliantly and was up quickly to bravely stop Kelvin McNally cut in from the right wing to arrow a low left
the rebounded effort too. footed drive past the Bawnboy keeper.
This jolted the Royal into life and they had a period of McKeon Boyle made a brilliant save from a free kick,
pressure of their own as they forced four consecutive deflecting the ball onto the crossbar and then thwarted a
corners, but to no avail. However towards the end of the one on one chance for Bawnboy to get back into it. Instead
1 half Kelvin McNally played a ball through and following a great run and pass from left back Craig Ebbitt put McNally
st
some great pressing from Mark Stewart the defender and through to finish to the top corner, this time on his right foot.
goalkeeper made an error which Joshua Ajayi pounced on This goal killed off any hope of a comeback from Bawnboy
to make it 1-0 to the Royal at half time. and indeed the Royal scored two more through Ajayi and
Captain Aaron Heaslip.
The second half began with the Royal seeing more territory
and possession due to playing with the wind. At this stage In the end this match confirmed that the Royal were the

The Royal Times 2017-2018 55