Orchard and Crumlin boys help DDSL lift Kennedy Cup
By Stephen Leonard
THERE was no shortage of local interest in the Dublin and District Schoolboy League squad that captured the New Balance Kennedy Cup following their victory over Kildare in the Final at the University of Limerick.
Cherry Orchard’s Ben Quinn notched up a hat-trick as the DDSL fought their way back from a goal down early on to win 4-2 and claim the league’s 32nd Kennedy Cup.
He was joined on the squad by clubmates Glory Nzingo, Thomas Lonergan and Orchard Under 14 Premier team captain Craig King while Crumlin United trio Harvey Nugent, Matthew Brennan and Kyle Murphy also played their part in a superb campaign.
Aleksander Vassenin drew first blood for the KDUL side in the decider, but Dublin had turned that deficit on its head by the halftime break after both Quinn and Evan Ferguson rattled the net.
Quinn made it 3-1 midway through the second half, but Kildare remained in contention with a second from Dean Owens only to see Quinn complete his hat-trick to effectively see the DDSL over the line.
It capped another great title quest by the DDSL who topped their group with 13 goals and none conceded as they beat Carlow, South Tipperary and Athlone.
This set them up for a meeting with Cork in the last eight of the competition in which another of the Orchard contingent, Lonergan, hit the target along with Ferguson as their side edged a tight 2-1 victory.
The semi final against Donegal proved that bit more comfortable as the DDSL won out 3-0, Quinn and Lonergan again on the scoresheet along with Jamie Mullins as they helped propel their side through to another decider.
Also representing Cherry Orchard at the Kennedy Cup were Conall Meehan, Nuaim Nazri, Richard Idowu, Tom Lalor, Marvin Ikharo and Martin Ikharo who lined out for the SDFL side that finished in a very respectable 22nd place out of the 32 teams involved.
