The GTI soccer team has claimed its first national title in its first season in the Combined Colleges League.
The Galway students secured the division one crown with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over a determined Dundalk IT in Leixlip, Co Kildare.
Goals from striker Mark Dowling, midfielder Noel Varley, and winger Donal Kelly were enough to hold off a resilient Dundalk side. Manager Johnny Glynn said he was “delighted” for his team, saying their “desire and hunger” made all the difference.
The decider started at a blistering pace with two goals in the first six minutes. GTI took the early lead through striker Mark Dowling. Superb play down the right from captain Enda Curran resulted in a pinpoint cross to the back post for the number 10 to poke the ball into the top corner. Dundalk IT responded almost immediately. GTI keeper Conor Winn was caught napping after quick thinking of Dundalk’s Darragh McNamara saw his free kick sail into the top corner from 30 yards.
However Winn made a series of important saves to keep the Louth team from taking the lead, while centre back Frank Burke was commanding in the air, thwarting Dundalk at every opportunity.
An early injury to centre back Keith Lee meant GTI were temporarily down to 10 players and Dundalk looked to make the numerical advantage count, however GTI’s strong work ethic and organisation kept them at bay until Lee returned to action. Subsequently the injury would prove too much to bear and he was replaced on the half hour by Patrick Healy. This resulted in a major re-shuffle of GTI’s defence with full back Rory Gartland moving to centre back and winger Kelly moving to right back to allow Healy move into his preferred position of right midfield.
GTI created a number of opportunities to re-take the lead, and man of the match Curran led by example and was a constant threat to the Dundalk side, narrowly missing out on a number of chances.
Dundalk IT started the second half brightly and dominated the early exchanges. However, GTI stood firm and scored their second goal on 52 minutes from a corner driven into the Dundalk box, which was dispatched into the net from midfielder Noel Varley.
As the half progressed Dundalk pushed their men forward in search of an equaliser, but this gamble did not pay off as GTI scored their third goal on 75 minutes. Leaving holes in the defence, GTI winger Donal Kelly latched onto a ball, beating the offside trap, and coolly lobbed the keeper to make it 3-1.
Dundalk increased the pressure and were finally rewarded when McNamara waltzed through the defence to slot home goal number two on 81 minutes. This set up a tense and nail-biting finish but GTI withstood a barrage of attacks in the final moments to claim the honours.
