Another Leinster title for Knockbeg College
Knockbeg captain Evan Brennan is presented with the Leinster 2nd year 'A' football cup by Con Ronan, representing Leinster Schools. Photo: Pat Ahern
Knockbeg completed a super footballing double in Athy on Thursday. With the junior side taking a South Leinster football title the day before the college won the Leinster Second Years Football A Final with a convincing performance at the County Kildare venue.
It is hard to gauge how good this side is but they have a track record and have put up some big scores over the last year. They never really gave the Dublin side a look in as the eventual winners won all the battles. In fact, if it wasn’t for the agility and bravery of the Colaiste Eoin goalkeeper, Oisin Mac Diarmada, the Knockbeg goal count could have gone into double digits. At least four times in the first half he brought off great saves and was a rock under the high ball.
Yet he could do little about the opening goal when, within seconds, Frankie Doyle off-loaded to Ethan Lawlor who scored from close range. In awful conditions the rain fell and the strong wind made it a test of endurance for the players. Fionn Harris still posted three points for Knockbeg. On 21 minutes, Aidan Fitzharris, with a neat finish, found the bottom left hand corner for another three-pointer.
Ciarán Ó’hAodha and Oisin Ó’Duinn were the only scorers for Colaiste Eoin in the first half as Knockbeg led 2-6 to 0-2 at the interval. With the wind blowing diagonally down the field and favouring Knockbeg only a major accident was going to deny them a provincial title now.
In the second half, it took the Carlow college a little bit longer to get going than their mentors would have liked. They still tacked on three points through Buitleaar, Harris and Aidan Fitzharris which all but quenched a possible revival.
From a narrow angle, George Conway scored the third goal at the dressing room end of the ground after Mac Diarmada had saved brilliantly to deny Harry McNamara.
Colaiste Eoin visibly wilted at that stage. Frankie Doyle scored a fourth goal and, with his first touch after coming into the game, Ryan Jacob, also found the net rigging.
At that stage the cold and wind which enveloped the ground from beginning to end was replaced with the warm glow of winning a Leinster title. Few teams have stayed with this group over their two years in secondary school. Exciting times indeed with much room for optimism that there is more to come.
E Lawlor 1-2, F Harris 0-5 (1f), A Fitzharris 1-2, F Doyle 1-1, R Jacob, G Conway 1-0 each, H Buitleaar 0-2, M Kennedy, E Brennan 0-1 each.
C Ó Murchú 1-1 (fs), O O’Duinn, Ciaran Ó hAodha 0-1 each.
Sam McElroy Norman (Arles Kilcruise); Dara Kavanagh (Stradbally), Padraic Hogan (Fighting Cocks), Liam Hyde (Ballylinan); Harry Buitlear (Castledermot), Evan Brennan (Killeshin), Jake Kelly (Ballylinan); Conor Whelan (Palatine), Harry McNamara (Killeshin); Ethan Lawlor (Palatine), Mark Kennedy (Ballylinan), Frankie Doyle (Leighlinbridge); Fionn Harris (Arles Killeen), Aidan Fitzharris (Palatine), George Conway (Arles Kilcruise). Subs: Darragh Maher (Palatine) for Kelly, Ryan Jacob (Ballylinan) for H McNamara (Killeshin) both 47, Sean Townsend (Carlow Town) for McElroy Norman (55), Rinn Clancy (Athy) for Kavanagh, Johnny McGrath (Killeshin) for Hyde (all 57), Michael Whelan (Barrowhouse) for Buitlear (60), Tristan Cotter (Palatine), Sean Lawlor (Grangenolvin), Ollie Nolan (Palatine), Conor Cantwell (Asca), Jon Slattery (Fighting Cocks), Dara Morgan (Arles Killeen), Oisin Bannon (Arles Killeen), Oliver Hughes (O’Dempseys), Kevin Jones (Killeshin), Barry Stynes (Ballylinan), Darragh Dowling (Palatine), Jake Brennan (Baltinglass), Jonathon Short (Baltinglass), Noah Kelly (Éire Óg), Alex Moore (Ballylinan), Charlie Lacey (Ballylinan).
Oisin Mac Diarmada; Rory Ó’Conchúir, Fionn Máirtín, Niall Mac Lochlainn; Simon Ó’Mordha, Senan Ó’Cathail, Cormac Ó Cinnéide; Oisin Ó’Duinn, Cionnaodh Ó Múrchu; Dylan Ó’Murchú, Harry Ó’Méadhra, Iollan Caomhánach; Adam Ó’Ceallacháin, Mahon Mac an Rothaidh, Ciarán Ó’hAodha. Subs: Fiachra Pléiminn for Caomhánach, Riain Ó’Móráin for C Ó’hAodh (both 40).
Referee: Brendan Hickey (Graiguecullen)
