Ardscoil na Tríonóide exit Bosco Cup
Ronan Kelly of Ardscoil Na Trionoide was heavily marked throughout the game Photo: Aisling Hyland
Ardscoil na Tríonóide’s hopes of reaching the Final of the Bro Bosco Cup for the second year in a row were firmly dashed on Thursday afternoon when they went under by three points to Moate CS in Group 1, Round 3 of the 2025/26 competition at the splendid new pitch in Athy GAA. The Athy school needed to win to attain second spot in the Group but it wasn’t to be on this occasion.
Moate got the most perfect of starts with a fortuitous goal from Billy Stenson after three minutes and although they retained a lot of possession, they were content to play a possession game outside the Athy school’s scoring arc.
Ardscoil gradually came more into the game as they forced a number of turn overs and drew level by the end of the first quarter with points from Calum Keaveny, Ronan Kelly and Cian Moran. Although Moate gained the lead again with a point from captain Darragh Madden, Ardscoil went in front for the first time with a splendid two pointer from play from wing forward, Cian Murphy in the 24th minute. The Athy school stretched the lead to three points by the half time break, thanks to three points from Ronan Kelly with the only response for Moate coming from Darragh Deegan to leave the Athy school leading 0-8 to 1-2.
Moate took early advantage of the stiffening breeze with points from Sean Mackey and Brian Doyle but Niall Hickey responded for Ardscoil in the 40th minute. That was to be the Athy school’s last score until the last five minutes as they spurned a number of goal scoring opportunities. Buoyed by this Moate responded with a goal from Brian Doyle and a two pointer free from goalkeeper, Jack Ryan.
Five points separated the sides as we entered the last five minutes but Ard Scoil made a real fight of it with three frees from Ronan Kelly to reduce the deficit to two points. They couldn’t close out the game, however, and Darragh Deegan ensured the three point victory for the Westmeath school with a point in the second minute of injury time.
Jack Ryan 0-2 (1 X 2pt free); Mark Loddick, Anthony King Carroll, Lee Corcoran; Ben Martin, Billy Stenson 1-0, Alex Mullen Adamson; Brian Doyle 1-2, Conor Daly; Aaron Claffey, Kevin Boland, Darragh Deegan 0-2; Eoin McCormack, Sean Mackey 0-1, Darragh Madden 0-2. SUBS: John Paul for Eoin McCormack 53.
Rory Chanders (Athy); Hugh Kennedy (Athy), Daniel Henry (Athy), Glenn Doyle (St Laurence’s); Mark Grufferty (St Laurence’s), Cameron Pedreschi (Athy), Calum Keaveny (Athy) 0-1; Robbie Murphy (St Joesph’s), Padraig Grifferty (St Laurence’s); Ciam Murphy (St Joseph’s) 0-3 (1 X 2pt), Ronan Kelly (Athy) 0-7 (4 frees), Fionn Whelan (St Laurence’s); Harry Grainger (Athy), Niall Hickey (Ballylinan) 0-1, Sean Rowan (St Joseph’s). SUBS: Conor Byrne (Rheban) for Hugh Kennedy 56.
Lar Murphy (Carlow)
