Ardscoil win puts them in pole position for knockout stages
Ardscoil Na Tríonóide team Photo: Aisling Hyland
Ardscoil Na Tríonóide, Athy, followed up their hard-earned draw against Knockbeg College last week with a convincing if nervy win over Marist College, Athlone in Round 2 of their Group 1 in the Bro Bosco Cup at the splendid Geraldine Park, Athy on Friday morning.
The Athy College led 2-6 to 0-5 at the break and 2-9 to 0-9 ten minutes after the restart. The first half goals came from corner forward Paidi Kelly and the outstanding Darragh Farrell a minute before the break.
The wheels slightly came off the Ardscoil wagon from the 40th minute on when first they lost wing back, Roan Brennan to a Black Card and just as the St Joseph’s man returned, they conceded a goal with corner forward, Sean Whittaker, finishing to the net on 50 minutes.
That left the scores at 2-11 to 1-10 and when substitute, Paul Keegan, pointed two minutes later, nerves became even more frayed on the pitch and on the sidelines.
In fairness Ardscoil weathered that storm and but for the brilliance of Marist keeper, Zac Mullally, they might have been more comfortable. However, led by the likes of Ronan Kelly, Darragh Farrell, Eoin Johnson and Colm Moran, the Athy College managed the game out well and a goal by Castlemitchell’s Evan Doogue, put paid to any comeback and Ardscoil held out for a famous victory.
Oisín Groarke (Castlemitchell); Eoin Coffey (Castlemitchell), Mark Grufferty (St Laurence’s), Liam Byrne (Athy); Roan Brennan (St Jospeh’s), Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s), Calum Keaveny (Athy); Colm Moran (Athy) 0-2 (2 frees), Robbie Murphy (St Joseph’s) 0-1; Ronan Kelly (Athy) 0-6 (5 frees), Evan Doogue (Castlemitchell) 1-0, Sam Lynch (St Joseph’s); Sean Rowan (St Joseph’s), Darragh Farrell (St Joseph’s) 1-3, Paidi Kelly (Castlemitchell) 1-0 Subs: Harry Gringer (Athy) 0-1 for Sean Rowan 43, Cameron Pedreschi (Athy) for Sam Lynch 56, Ben Howe for Roan Brennan 58.
Zac Mullally; Daire Burke, Liam Staunton, Sean Keegan; Kyle Mahon, Adam Smyth 0-1, Anthony Mannion; Donal Dawson 0-1, Thomas Burke 0-1; Kealan Connell, Charlie O’Carroll, Cillian Geary; James McHugh 0-6 (4 frees), Thomas Cotton, Sean Whittaker 1-1 Subs: Daire O’Connor 0-2 for Charlie O’Carroll 23, Conor Fennell for Anthony Mannion 34, Paul Keegan 0-1 for Thomas Burke 43.
Brendan Hickey (Graiguecullen)
