Ardscoil dethrone Bro Bosco Cup champion
Ardscoil na Tríonóide's Colm Moran in possession Photo: Aisling Hyland
Ardscoil na Tríonóide had seven points to spare as they dethroned defending Bro Boaco Cup Champions, Naas CBS, in the Quarter Final of the competition at a pleasant Geraldine Park, Athy on Monday afternoon.
Displaying a great array of attacking and defending skills which gave them a seven point lead at half time, not unexpectantly, the Athy school had to withstand a brave second half fightback from Naas, who proved quality champions. That fightback fell short, due in no short manner to the display of Ardscoil goalkeeper, Oisin Groarty and the scoring ability of the likes of Colm Moran. The Castlemitchell netminder brought off three outstanding second half saves while Moran added three points to his first half tally of one.
The Athy school were fast out of the tracks and opened their scoring through Sam Lynch after just 20 seconds. Corner forward, Evan Doogue, fired over two more points while Darragh Farrell added another leaving them 0-4 to 0-0 to the good inside seven minutes as Naas CBS failed to find the range. The defending champions recorded six wides in a disappointing first half in front of goals and they had to wait till the 17th minute before corner back, Conor Breen scored their only point in the opening thirty minutes.
Meanwhile Ardscoil na Tríonóide continued to find the range with Colm Moran, Evan Doogue, with his third and a free from Ronan Kelly giving them a 0-8 to 0-1 half time lead.
Moran extended the lead with his second point two minutes after the restart but Naas brought themselves right back into the game with a goal from centre half forward, Liam Kenny, a minute later.
The game was very cagey for the next ten minutes and we had to wait until the 42nd minute before Kenny added a point for the Naas school.
The Naas fightback was curtailed at the start of the third quarter with two more points from Athy clubman, Moran. As the game entered the final ten minutes Naas went in search of goals but they were met with an outstanding display of goalkeeping from Groarty, grandson of former Kildare Co Chairman, Jack Wall. The Castlemitchell netminder denied Liam McKevitt, Sean Tully and Euan Couser with three saves of the top class variety. Naas CBS had to make do with a consolation point from Tully but at the other end Sam Lynch, with his second from play and another Ronan Kelly free closed out the scoring for a famous victory and a spot in the semi final in the new year for the south Kildare school.
Oisín Groarke (Castlemitchell); Daniel Henry (Athy), Mark Grufferty (St Laurence’s), Liam Byrne (Athy); Cameron Pedreschi (Athy), James Donnelly (St Laurence’s), Calum Keaveny (Athy); Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s); Robbie Murphy (St Joseph’s); Ronan Kelly (Athy) 0-2 (2 frees), Colm Moran (Athy) 0-4 (2 frees), Sam Lynch (St Joseph’s) 0-2; Evan Doogue (Castlemitchell) 0-3, Darragh Farrell (St Joseph’s) 0-2 (1 Mark), Paidi Kelly (Castlemitchell) SUBS: Roan Brennan (St Jospeh’s) for Daniel Henry, Harry Grainger (Athy) for Sam Lynch, Eoin Coffey (Castlemitchell) for Liam Byrne.
Mark Halligan (Naas); Oisin O’Neill (Naas), Eli Dhlos (Naas), Conor Breen (Naas) 0-1; Cillian Power (Sallins), Rob Murray (Naas), Evan Cahill (Eadestown); Dara Cooke (Raheens), Liam McKevitt (Naas); Liam Kenny (Naas) 1-1, Sean Tully (Raheens), Aidan McGrane (Naas); Evan Lenehan (Naas), Euan Cowser (Naas) 0-1, Tom Boran (Eadestown) SUBS: Tom Kilmartin (Naas), Rob Milham (Naas), Niall McAndrew (Naas) Cillian Long (Naas).
David Sweeney (Dublin)
