FIRST TEST PASSED
Wicklow Schools far too strong for Dundalk outfit
WICKLOW SCHOOLS 2-18 DUNDALK SCHOOLS 2-9
WICKLOW SCHOOLS Senior football team travelled to Dundalk IT on Saturday to take on Dundalk schools in their first game in this year’s Top Oil Bro Bosco Cup Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Football ‘A’ Championship.
It was a dry day and the pitch was in good condition.
Wicklow started well with full-forward Aaron Kennedy hitting the crossbar with a shot in the first minute.
Soon after that Tadhg Barrett opened the scoring for the visitors with a point from a free. Dundalk equalised soon after that and points were exchanged so that after 10 minutes it was level at 0-3 each.
Wicklow Schools then had a good spell and went into a lead of 0-7 to 0-3.
Dundalk then had their best spell of possession for the game and added two Conall McCaul points, but the team also kicked six wides.
Aaron Kennedy pointed a Wicklow free just before the half-time whistle to put his side into a lead of 0-8 to 0-5 at the break.
The visitors started the second half in whirlwind fashion.
In the second minute a well-directed long ball from Oisin Cullen found the dangerous Mark Cullen. He rounded the defence and shot to the corner of the net for the opening goal.
In the next five minutes Wicklow added four unanswered points to put them into a ten-point lead. Dundalk Schools fought back with three points but Wicklow were adding some fine long-range points also.
In the 16th minute Aaron Kennedy goaled for Wicklow while at the other end Tristan O’Connor saved well from Ben Collier.
With ten minutes remaining
Wicklow held an unassailable 2-17 to 0-8 lead but Dundalk never gave up and added two Jack Barron goals in quick succession and a Collier point.
Wicklow got the final score of the game, a point by substitute Robbie Miley to finish off a superb day at the office.
Scorers - Wicklow: Aaron Kennedy 1-7 (5f), Mark Cullen 1-1, Shane Daly 0-3, Brian Crowe 0-2, Tom Moran, Jordan Brady, Tadhg Barrett, Sean Doody, Robbie Miley 0-1 each.
Dundalk: Jack Barron 2-4 (3f), Conall McCaul 0-2, T J Doheny 0-2, Ben Collier 0-1.
Wicklow’s next game will be in January when they play Louth Schools who defeated Carlow Schools by 3-10 to 2-12 in Carlow.
The Wicklow management team consisted of John-Paul Davis, Alan Deering, Garrett Doyle, Kevin Murphy and Gary Duffy.