Take a deep breath before considering the outcome of the 2019 AIC First XI football season in Saturday’s final round.
The premiership could be shared between four teams depending on the results.
It’s a fitting finale to a season that has been superbly contested across the schools, with all sorts of finishing combinations possible.
Marist College Ashgrove is in the driver’s seat, heading into its home clash with Iona College with a one-point lead in the competition.
St Laurence’s College and Villanova College are equal second, one point back – and they play this weekend – while St Patrick’s College is fourth, just three points from the lead.
The four-way tie would happen this way: if Ashgrove loses to Iona; St Laurence’s and Villanova draw; and St Pat’s wins its clash with St Peter’s Lutheran College.
Stranger things have happened this season.
For now, Ashgrove will be hopeful that it can claim the title after star striker Zach Kierpal grabbed another two goals in a 4-1 victory over Padua College in last Saturday’s sixth round.
Max Fryar was excellent on Ashgrove’s right side of defence to keep the talented Padua team to one goal.
Iona will arrive at Ashgrove for the match hoping to regain their early-season touch after falling to the surging St Edmund’s College last Saturday.
Connor Asquith scored both goals in the 2-1 win which rewarded St Edmund’s for its efforts this season. Iona began the season in excellent form and will present a real challenge for Ashgrove.
This Saturday’s clash at Runcorn between St Laurence’s and Villanova shapes as one of the best matches of the season.
St Laurence’s outlasted St Peter’s Lutheran College 3-2 last weekend, recovering from a 1-2 deficit at home. Juan Rodriguez, Harry Pegg and Jean Maniranbona helped St Laurence’s overcome goals to St Peter’s players Zane Paterson and Paddy Cunningham.
Villanova heads to Runcorn in form after scoring three second-half goals to defeat St Patrick’s 5-2 last Saturday.
The scores were tied at halftime but Villanova finished well as captain Anthony Karamihas scored twice while striker Peter Klaassen added to his list of goals for the season.
St Patrick’s will hope to rebound this Saturday when they travel to St Peter’s.
At Banyo, Padua will host the dangerous St Edmund’s team to round out an exciting final batch of matches for 2019.
Round 7 matches, Saturday 15 June (home teams first)
Marist College, Ashgrove vs Iona College
St Laurence’s College vs Villanova College
Padua College vs St Edmund’s College
St Peter’s Lutheran College vs St Patrick’s College
Round 6 results
St Laurence’s College 3 (Juan Rodriguez, Harry Pegg, Jean Maniranbona) d St Peter’s Lutheran College 2 (Zane Paterson, Paddy Cunningham)
St Edmund’s College 2 (Connor Asquith 2) d Iona College 0
Villanova College 5 (Anthony Karamihas 2, Peter Klaassen, Terry Solomon, Will Kubler) d St Patrick’s College 2
Marist College Ashgrove 4 (Zach Kierpal 2, Sam Vosper & Will Gullo) d Padua College 1
