Kildare players to the fore as Knockbeg prove too strong for Scoil Mhuire Clane
Scoil Mhuire Clane goalkeeper Joe Crotty is tackled his Kildare minor team-mate, Knockbeg College's Aodhan Bergin during today's Bro Bosco Cup tie in SETU Carlow. Photo: Pat Ahern
Three strikes and you’re out was flipped on its head in Round 3 of Group 6 of the Bro Bosco in perfect conditions in the SETU Complex in Carlow on Thursday afternoon. A place at the top of Group 5, a home Preliminary Quarter Final against Runners Up in Group 7, Colaiste Eoin rather than an away fixture against defending champions, Colaiste Mhuire and the South Leinster League “A” Final were all on offer on the day. Thanks to a superb second half performance, for which Scoil Mhuire, Clane, had no answer, it was Carlow school, Knockbeg College, who came away with all the spoils.
Featuring three players from the successful Kildare Leinster minor team of this year as well as minors from Laois and the home county of Carlow, Knockbeg had beaten Moate CS in Round 2, 4-17 to 1-24 so, with home advantage, they might have been carrying a slight favourites tag. For their part, Scoil Mhuire welcomed back county minor, Eoghan Lyons, who missed the opening round 3-6 to 0-12 victory over Moate, because of suspension, but they were still without the injured, Charlie Doran, another minor star, who hopes to be back for the Preliminary Quarter Final.
After a tight first half in which Knockbeg had goals from Grangenolvin’s Aodhán Bergin and Ronan Dooley, the Carlow school only turned in two points to the good with two excellent two pointers for Clane from Logan Tennyson (free) and Jack Doran keeping them very much in touch. Once Castledermot’s Greg Kelly opened the second half account for Knockbeg, the Clane school were always fighting an uphill battle into a stiffening breeze.
In fact, Liam Power’s charges could only manage three points in that second half, one each from Eoghan Lyons and Aidan Tobin midway through the half and a late overhead flick from the hard working, Callum Dunne. The Carlow school practically owned the final quarter scoring 2-9 in the process. Greg Kelly at centre half forward, the St Laurence’s pair of Donnacha Lawlor, midfield, and Senan Gallagher, once he moved away from his defensive duties on Tennyson, instigated many of the moves which brought Knockbeg scores. Their third goal at the start of the final quarter, from Aaron Mackey, put paid to any hope of a Scoil Mhuire comeback as it gave the Carlow school a 3-8 to 0-11 lead.
The icing was put on the cake with the final goal seven minutes from time from substitute, Eoghan Harris. Kildare men, Fionn Lawlor (St Laurence’s), Gallagher and Kelly finished out the scoring for Knockbeg, with Mark Buggy adding to his tally with a late two pointer free.
The Knockbeg management team included Conor Ronan of Athy and Aaron Gorman of St Laurence’s and their team will now go forward to meet Colaiste Eoin, Stillorgan in the Preliminary Quarter Final at a Carlow venue in about two weeks’ time. Scoil Mhuire must travel to meet defending Bro Bosco and Hogan Cup Champions, Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar around the same time.
Mark Dowling (Crettyard); Hugh Wall (Arless Kileen), Senan Gallagher (St Laurence’s, 0-1), John Hendricken (Palatine, 0-2); Fionn Lawlor (St Laurence’s, 0-1), Fionnan Brennan (Crettyard), Ronan Dooley (Äire Óg, 1-1); Cormac McConnon (Palatine), Donnacha Lawlor (St Lawrence’s) 0-1; Michael Brennan (Crettyard), Greg Kelly (Castledermot, 0-2), Aaron Mackey (Arles Kilcruise, 1-1); Luke Byrne (Palatine, 0-1), Mark Buggy (Palatine, 0-6 1tpf, 1f), Aodhan Bergin (Grangenolvin, 1-0). Subs: Tadgh Murnane (Castledermot) for Fionnan Brennan, Eoghan Harris (Arless Kileen, 1-1) for Luke Byrne, Darragh Brennan (Crettyard) for Aaron Mackey, Eolann Maguire (Arles Kilcruise) for Ronan Dooley, Nisun Balogun (Killeshin) for Aodhán Bergin.
Joe Crotty (St Kevin’s); Jamie Mooney (St Kevin’s) Cillian Delaney (St Kevin’s), Art Ormsby (Clane); Jack Doran (Clane, 0-2, 1tp), Adam Corbett (Clane), Barry Fitzpatrick (Clane); Aidan Maddock, Rory Óg Maguire (Clane); Ryan Bagnall (Robertstown), Aidan Tobin (Allenwood, 0-1), Eoghan Lyons (Clane, 0-2); Callum Dunne (St Kevin’s, 0-3), Logan Tennyson (St Kevin’s, 0-4, 1tpf, 1’45), Callum Fogarty (Clane). Subs: Oscar Heffernan (Clane) for Barry Fitzpatrick, Adam Smyth (St Kevin’s) for Rory Óg Maguire, Calvin Fetherstone (Allenwood) for Ryan Bagnall, Jack Fielding (Clane) for Jamie Mooney, Conor Bagnall (Allenwood) for Callum Fogarty.
Maurice Deegan (Laois).
