Superb second half seals top spot for Knockbeg
Knockbeg's Ronan Dooley celebrates a scoring a first half goa against Scoil Mhuire Clan
A SUPERB second half display, during which they outscored Scoil Mhuire, Clane by 2-9 to 0-3, sent Knockbeg College to the top of Group 5 of Bro Bosco Cup and a Preliminary quarter-final meeting with Group 7 Runners up, Coláiste Eoin, Stillorgan following Thursday’s Round 3 game in the SETU Sports Complex in Carlow. The Clane school must face last year’s Leinster and All Ireland champions, Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar in their knock out game.
The game, which also acted as the South Leinster League ‘A’ Final, was switched from the original venue of Netwatch Cullen Park, on the morning of the game, because of circumstances at that venue.
Knockbeg had county minors from the successful Kildare Leinster minor team of this year as well as minors from Laois and the home county of Carlow while the Clane school could also boast a number of Kildare minors including Eoghan Lyons who missed the opening round through suspension, although they were without the injured star, Charlie Doran, who hopes to be back for the Preliminary Quarter Final.
Knockbeg were dealt an early blow when centre half back, Fionnan Brennan, had to leave the field after eight minutes through injury, but his replacement, Tadhg Murnane, stepped up manfully to the task.
Knockbeg led 2-5 to 0-9 after a tight opening thirty minutes. A goal from Aodhán Bergin put them 1-3 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the first quarter and a second goal from Äire Óg’s wing back, Ronan Dooley, saw them lead 2-3 to 0-3 three minutes into the second quarter.
The Clane school kept in touch with excellent two pointers from Logan Tennyson (free) and Jack Doran.
Greg
Kelly opened the second half account for Knockbeg and Palatine’s Mark Buggy added two more early second half points to stretch the home advantage out to five points. Just when it seemed that Scoil Mhuire were staging a comeback with points from Eoghan Lyons and Aidan Tobin, Aaron Mackey raced through to fire past Kildare minor goalkeeper, Joe Crotty to push the lead out to what proved to be an unassailable six points at the start of the final quarter.
The Carlow school practically owned the final quarter with dominant displays from the Palatine trio of John Hendricken, who scored a two pointer, Cormac McConnon and Mark Buggy who ended up with a tally of six points. The icing was put on the cake for Knockbeg with the final goal seven minutes from time from substitute, Eoghan Harris.
On this showing, Knockbeg will fancy their chances against Coláiste Eoin, Stillorgan in the Preliminary quarter-final at a Carlow venue in about two weeks time while Scoil Mhuire have that daunting task of facing defending Bro Bosco and Hogan Cup Champions, Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar around the same time.
Knockbeg: Mark Buggy 0-6 (1tpf, 0-1f), Ronan Dooley, Eoghan Harris and Aaron Mackey 1-1 each, Aodhan Bergin 1-0, John Hendricken, Greg Kelly 0-2, Senan Gallagher, Fionn Lawlor, Donnacha Lawlor and Luke Byrne 0-1 each.
Clane: Logan Tennyson 0-4 (1tpf, 0-1 45), Callum Dunne 0-3, Jack Doran (1tpf) and Eoghan Lyons 0-2 each, Aidan Tobin 0-1
Mark Dowling (Crettyard); Hugh Wall (Arles Kileen), Senan Gallagher (St Laurence’s), John Hendricken (Palatine), Fionn Lawlor (St Laurence’s), Fionnan Brennan (Crettyard), Ronan Dooley (Eire Óg); Cormac McConnon (Palatine), Donnacha Lawlor (St Lawrence’s); Michael Brennan (Crettyard), Greg Kelly (Castledermot), Aaron Mackey (Arles Kilcruise); Luke Byrne (Palatine), Mark Buggy (Palatine), Aodhan Bergin (Grangenolvin).
Subs: Tadgh Murnane (Castledermot) for F. Brennan, Eoghan Harris (Arles Kileen) for Byrne, Darragh Brennan (Crettyard) for Mackey, Eolann Maguire (Arles Kilcruise) for Dooley, Nisun Balogun (Killeshin) for Bergin.
Joe Crotty (St Kevin’s); Jamie Mooney (St Kevin’s) Cillian Delaney (St Kevin’s), Art Ormsby (Clane); Jack Doran (Clane), Adam Corbett (Clane), Barry Fitzpatrick (Clane); Aidan Maddock, Rory Óg Maguire (Clane); Ryan Bagnall (Robertstown), Aidan Tobin (Allenwood), Eoghan Lyons (Clane); Callum Dunne (St Kevin’s), Logan Tennyson (St Kevin’s) 0-4, Callum Fogarty (Clane).
Subs: Oscar Heffernan (Clane) for Fitzpatrick, Adam Smyth (St Kevin’s) for Maguire, Calvin Fetherstone (Allenwood) for Bagnall, Jack Fielding (Clane) for Mooney, Conor Bagnall (Allenwood) for Fogarty.
Maurice Deegan (Laois).
