Ardscoil na Trionóide, Athy 0-12 Moate Community School 0-4
By Gerry Buckley
Ardscoil na Trionóide, Athy qualified for their first ever Leinster colleges senior ‘A’ football final with a fully deserved win against a disappointing Moate Community School side in their semi-final clash played in ideal conditions for football in Kinnegad on Tuesday afternoon.
In a novel Bro Bosco Cup decider on February 8, the Kildare school will face Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar, whose only win in the competition came all of 42 years ago. On the evidence of the campaign so far, it certainly seems like the two best teams will challenge for the prestigious silverware, and a closely-contested game looks very much on the cards.
Following a turnover, Athy’s Ronan Kelly, who went on to have an outstanding game, teed up Calum Keaveny for the opening score in the third minute. The latter’s opposite number, Conor Daly, equalised some seven minutes later after a great piece of fielding by James Mitchell.
Kelly opened his account in style just a minute later, and he doubled his tally in the 13th minute after Moate conceded a free for a back-pass to Jack Ryan who had to hack the ball away. Ironically, Kelly’s casual shot from the routine free came back off the crossbar, but he was alert to the rebound and fisted the ball over. This left Ardscoil na Trionóide ahead by 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of an opening quarter during which defences had been largely on top.
Dara Madden halved the deficit from a difficult free in the 16th minute, but Kelly reciprocated with a similar strike from a placed ball – again the losers had conceded the free needlessly. A great long-range point from Robbie Murphy and an improvised point with his fist by Evan Doogue stretched the winners’ advantage. A low-trajectory point from Madden followed at the other end. On the stroke of the half-hour, the hard-working Darragh Farrell pointed via Ryan’s fingertips, leaving his side ahead by 0-7 to 0-3 at the break.
Moate CS came close to manufacturing a much-needed goal within 30 seconds of the resumption of play, but the ball was cleared. The red and black-clad outfit were on top at this juncture and points from James Donnelly, Kelly (a good free), and Sam Lynch had them firmly in control when leading by 0-10 to 0-3 at the end of the third quarter.
Adam Fox scored what proved to be the Westmeath school’s only point of the second half, via the crossbar in the 52nd minute. The lads in navy and green were wasteful from scoreable frees, but there can be no denying that their opponents were much the better team on the day, and they copper-fastened their slot in the final with late points from the boots of skipper Eoin Johnson (a well-worked score) and Colm Moran (who deliberately took his point when a goal beckoned in injury-time).
Scorers –
Athy: R Kelly 0-4 (2f), J Donnelly, C Keaveny, E Johnson, R Murphy, C Moran, S Lynch, E Doogue, D Farrell 0-1 each.
Moate: D Madden 0-2 (1f), A Fox, C Daly 0-1 each.
Ardscoil na Trionóide, Athy: Oisín Groarke; Daniel Henry, Mark Grufferty, Liam Byrne; Cameron Pedreschi, James Donnelly, Calum Keaveny; Eoin Johnson, Robbie Murphy; Ronan Kelly, Colm Moran, Sam Lynch; Evan Doogue, Darragh Farrell, Páidí Kelly. Subs used: Harry Grainger for Doogue (52), Cian O’Rourke for Lynch (60+1), Roán Brennan for Keaveny (60+1).
Moate Community School: Jack Ryan; Jack Daly, Cormac Murphy, Tadhg Heavin; Adam Fox, Cian Whitney, Conor Daly; Seán Óg Foley, Enda McLoughlin; Dara Madden, Darragh Delaney, Brian Doyle; James Mitchell, Ben Martin, Niall Hogan. Subs used: Dara Deegan for J Daly (34), Eoin McCormack for Doyle (43), Cody Parker for Martin (52), Anthony King Carroll for Heavin (56).
Ref: Eamonn O’Connor (Offaly).
By John Haughney Tue 21st Jan