Despair and elation in four minutes. A red card shown to Gerard McCarthy in the third minute of extra time looked like an ominous development for St Joseph's CBS Dublin in yesterday's senior schools cup final against holders, Summerhill.

As the Sligo side pressed and McCarthy departed Dalton Park Mullingar for a second yellow card offence it appeared that St Joseph's were destined to dig in until the end of the match and hopefully force a penalty shoot out.

Before the tacticians could determine the Dublin side's best options their Liverpool bound captain and central defender Kevin Doherty slotted in a free kick from the halfway line catching the Summerhill defence flat and the goalkeeper hesitant. Shane Hayden, not the tallest player on the pitch, simply headed into a largely empty net and suddenly St Joseph's were on course for snatching the trophy. With just 13 minutes of extra time remaining they gratefully accepted.

The goal quite simply came on the back of one of Summerhill's strongest phases of the game. With midfielder Aubrey Dolan and a deep playing Conor O'Grady servicing the Rossiter brothers Ian (member of the under-16 UEFA Championship squad) and Mark last year's winners seemed to be inching their way towards another cup success.

Where the Sligo side were deliberate the Dubliners flashed and flicked. Philip Curran on the left wing occasionally dazzled for St Joseph's but no crosses of mint condition arrived into the danger zone. Again Doherty was the principal figure in the Dublin side's offensive efforts coming in deep in the far post and making contact with at least two corners for his side's best first half efforts.

More opportunities materialised for the holders in the second half, the best of which forced a sharp reaction save from St Joseph's goalkeeper Sean Kelly. Ian Rossiter was taken down by Doherty just outside the penalty area to the right of the goal. Conor O'Grady's floating cross hung perfectly for Mark Rossiter to meet at the far post before Kelly covered low to his right to keep the sides even on the 77th minute.

But the Dublin side's resilience and fortitude paid off, never wilting and always showing an eagerness to run at the Sligo defence, they will recognise that the winning goal involved some fortitude but also a willingness and appetite to compete right until the end.

St Joseph's Cbs, Dublin: S Kelly, P Whelan, S Hayden, K Healy, K Doherty (Capt) G Duff, F Doyle P Ruddy, P Ryan, P Curran, G McCarthy. Subs: C Sullivan for Ryan (64 mins), S Kelly for Hayden (99 mins).

Summerhill College, Sligo: D Donegan, A Devanney, K O'Neill, P Gallagher, T Watters, M McNamara, A Dolan, M Bree, M Rossiter, I Rossiter, C O'Grady. (Capt) Subs: P Conlon for O'Neill (54 mins), R McGlynn for Bree (60 mins), A Cawley for Devanney (94 mins).

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).