DUNMANWAY Town are the pride of the West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League (WCSSL) after reaching the last 16 in this season’s SFAI U15 Schoolboys National Trophy competition.

The last remaining WCSSL club in SFAI competition are still standing following a dramatic encounter in John Hyland Park in Baldonell, Dublin on Sunday afternoon.

Few people outside Dunmanway’s dressing-room gave the West Cork club a chance travelling to the capital to face St Francis (2) on their home ground. Yet, this Town team had shown in previous rounds that reputations mean very little to them, when it comes to SFAI competition.

A 6-2 third-round defeat of Corinthian Boys A preceded an equally impressive 3-1 win at home to Castleview AFC. Those victories qualified Dunmanway from the Cork section and on to the national stages of the U15 Schoolboys Trophy.

The draw for the round of 32 pitted Town away to St Francis which necessitated a long journey to Dublin for the team, mentors and supporters on Sunday.

A tight first half failed to produce a goal and the teams changed ends tied 0-0. Dunmanway grew in confidence as the tie progressed and were elated to hit the front when Eoghain Holland scored to make it 1-0.

Goalkeeper Oisin Kelleher made a tremendous save to keep his side ahead but St Francis kept pressing and netted a late equaliser.

No further scoring meant extra-time was required. The home side grabbed the lead in the first period of additional time and things were looking good for the Dublin club as the clock reached 120 minutes.

That was team captain Vittor Coutinho’s cue to make his presence felt. Coutinho scored in the dying seconds to make it 2-2 and send the tie to penalty kicks.

A nerve-jangling shootout saw each team convert their first four attempts. Then St Francis’ fifth penalty struck the crossbar and opened the door for Dunmanway to snatch an unlikely victory. But Town missed and sudden death began with St Francis, amazingly, firing inches over the crossbar.

Nerves were at fever pitch when Ryan Crowley-Healy stepped forward with Dunmanway’s second chance of glory. The young player calmly found the net to seal a memorable win and send Town’s players and supporters into wild celebrations.

‘It was a brilliant game from both teams and the result could have gone either way,’ Dunmanway Town U15 Schoolboys manager Padraig McCarthy told The Southern Star.

‘The squad worked unbelievably hard and never gave up. It’s lovely for everybody involved with this team to come away with a win.’

Dunmanway U15 schoolboys coach Cathal Kelleher added: ‘Well done to every one of the lads on grinding out a super result. St Francis were serious opposition. We are especially proud of the impeccable way our players behaved all day. They were an absolute credit to Dunmanway Town FC, and more importantly, to their parents.’

Some of the most prestigious schoolboys clubs in the country are still in the SFAI U15 Schoolboys National Trophy. Dunmanway’s possible opponents in the round of 16 include Corinthian Boys (Cork), Westport United (Mayo), Ringmahon Rangers (Cork), Crumlin United (Dublin), Illistrin FC (Donegal), Inter Kenmare (Kerry) and Straide and Foxford United (Mayo).

Irrespective of whoever Dunmanway Town draw in the next round, this young squad has done the West Cork region proud and has every chance of continuing their marvellous run in the national stages.

Dunmanway Town U15 schoolboys: Oisin Kelleher, Darryl O’Donovan, Eoghain Holland, Max Bramoulle, Oisin O’Regan, Hugh McCarthy, Jamie O’ Sullivan, Ben Mackey, Eoghan Foley, Vittor Coutinho (captain), Tristan Hayes, Ryan Healy Crowley, Danny Carroll, Matthew O’Connell.