SUPER SAINTS RETAIN

AN impressive run of eight unanswered points in the last quarter saw St Joseph’s CBS claim their second consecutive Lennon Cup title in an exciting decider last Thursday night.

The Drogheda school played second fiddle to a well-drilled Bush Post Primary outfit in the first half but timed their comeback to perfection and ended up worthy winners, even though the outcome remained in doubt until the long whistle.

At very short notice the final was moved from a fog-shrouded Darver to DkIT, and late arrivals would have missed the game’s first talking point as Bush midfielder Eoin McDaid was black-carded for dragging down his opponent inside the opening 30 seconds.

This was a slow burner in terms of entertainment, and after 10 minutes the sides had managed a wide apiece and just one score between them, courtesy of Joe Corrigan’s fine early point for the Joes.

Bush were desperate to gain revenge for their defeat 12 months ago, however, and their slick hand-passing game began to pay dividends, with Cathal Grogan, Leonard Grey and captain Conor Kenny particularly influential.

Grogan tied the scores with a 30-metre free in the 11th minute, and after Grey had blocked down an Eoghan Callaghan point attempt Joe Quinn slotted over another free to put Bush ahead.

Joes full forward Corrigan immediately levelled courtesy of a free, but the peninsula side could have had a goal in the 19th minute as Grogan burst forward and shipped the ball to Grey. He in turn set up Quinn who dragged a left-footed shot narrowly wide.

There was an earlier foul, however, and play was called back for a straightforward free which Grogan converted - 0-3 to 0-2.

On 24 minutes Bush did forge well clear, though, after they were awarded a penalty. Wing back Marc Murphy burst down the right flank and boomed a towering delivery towards the square where referee Hand spotted an infringement.

Joe Dunne stroked the ball low past keeper Niall McDonnell to make it a four-point game and almost immediately the Joes lost their captain Callaghan to a black card.

The sides then swapped points as a Corrigan free was cancelled out by Bush’s first score from play, a fine effort by Quinn.

Right on half-time the Joes passed up a goal opportunity when Shane Hickey showed searing pace to beat his marker, only to fire narrowly wide, and so the Drogheda men turned around trailing 1-4 to 0-3.

Midfielder Alan Connor pointed in the opening seconds after the restart and waved his arms in the air in a rallying call to his teammates which seemed to be heeded. There was definitely more urgency to the Joes’ play, and after Connor had a point attempt blocked down by Marc Murphy the number 8 was fouled and Corrigan converted the free.

But just as the Joes were building up a head of steam, they were hit by a sucker punch in the 39th minute. From a sideline, Grogan picked out Kenny infield and his point attempt dipped awkwardly in front of McDonnell who seemed to fumble the ball into his own net. Now

leading by 2-4 to 0-5, Bush perhaps sensed that they were on the brink of a famous win, but the Joes responded like champions as they whittled away at the five-point deficit.

Corrigan started the comeback with a free, but the impetus really came from midfielder Conor Morgan who kicked a brace of magnificent points in 60 seconds to leave just two between them.

Players from both teams were losing their footing as the frozen pitch became increasingly treacherous, and they deserve immense credit for putting on such a fine spectacle in the latter stages.

Corrigan dropped a longrange free short, resulting in a goalmouth scramble and two successive 45s which weren’t converted, and after a Morgan wide Corrigan stepped up the plate once more with another brilliantly struck free kick - 2-4 to 0-9.

All the while the Joes were imperious in defence, with Marty Walsh standing out in the full back line, but a rare Bush attack led to a score-able

free which Grogan kicked wide and that proved costly.

Jamie Doherty tied the scores in the 54th minute, moments later Corrigan split the posts despite slipping in the act of shooting, and centre-back Dylan Rice then won a free which the full forward converted to take his personal tally to eight.

Try as they might to work the ball back down the field, Bush just couldn’t get a grip of possession and Hickey grabbed the point he richly deserved in the first minute of stoppage time to put the seal on victory for St Joseph’s.