Counsel make an early exit
Super Edenderry team put Barrowsiders to the sword
ST. MARY’S GOOD COUNSEL 1-23 1-7
GIVEN THEIR huge contribution to this competition since the mid1990s, it seems like an affront to the natural order of things to realise that Good Counsel (New Ross) were the first team to crash out of the new-look Top Oil Leinster Schools Brother Bosco Cup Senior football ‘A’ championship.
That’s the harsh reality, though, but it must be stressed that they came up against an exceptional side when St. Mary’s (Edenderry) clinically put them to the sword in this must-win for both Group D encounter on the St. Brigid’s club astro-turf in Castleknock on Wednesday.
This has been a knockout competition for as long as I can remember, but a six groups of three format was introduced for this campaign, with just one side to advance from each, and the other two quarter-finalists to emerge from a group teams qualifier.
And after fighting back to draw with Naas C.B.S. on home soil six days earlier, Counsel simply had to win in the only game to survive Wednesday’s heavy rainfall.
St. Mary’s had to forego home advantage as the Edenderry club pitch was unplayable, but the trip into Dublin proved no impediment as the All-Ireland Junior champions of two years ago showed that they are intent on adding a Senior crown in the new year.
While it was their debut, they also had to win before meeting Naas C.B.S. next, and on the evidence of what I have seen from the two teams, they should triumph in that one with considerable ease.
With a team drawn from clubs in Offaly, Kildare and Meath, the victors produced a sublime brand of football and had surged into a 0-12 to 0-4 lead by half-time.
In full-forward Cian Farrell they had a lethal attacker who had already scored 1-3 against the Wexford Minors last April while assisting Offaly.
And he was even better this time around, kicking points off either foot with an exhibition of finishing which yielded a staggering nine from play, and four more from frees.
While Counsel never really stood a chance against such an exceptional team, their poor handling of the ball and constant running into trouble didn’t help the cause. Normally their slick off the shoulder inter-passing comes naturally, but multiple misplaced deliveries were costly on such an unforgiving surface, especially close to the sidelines.
Counsel trailed by 0-4 to 0-2 after ten minutes, with Kevin O’Donohoe getting them off the mark after two early Mary’s points. Another brace for Edenderry was followed by a successful free from a generally subdued Seán Nolan, with the leader of the attack unable to reproduce his superb form displayed against Naas even though his marker and fellow captain, Cathal Farrell, departed on a black card for a jersey tug just before half-time.
That Nolan free was followed by seven Mary’s points on the trot, as they hit the ball into space in front of Cian Farrell as often and as quickly as possible.
He didn’t disappoint either with a quality service, and some of his points were an absolute joy to behold. First Eamonn O’Sullivan, and then Tommy Ryan, had the virtually impossible task of keeping tabs on the star attacker, but the real strength of St. Mary’s lay in the fact that most of Farrell’s colleagues were every bit as composed on the ball.
Counsel only managed to get scores back-to-back once, when Gusserane colleagues Kevin O’Donohoe and Gavin Sheehan pointed in the 28th and 29th minutes.
Corner-forwards Conor McCarthy and Mark Cully were also lethal for the victors, with the latter spending most of his time out the field from where he used his pace to cut the defence to ribbons.
The only real positive for Counsel from the first-half was that they managed to keep their goal intact, with Kyle Martin making one good stop to deny McCarthy near the end of the first quarter.
It was 0-18 to 0-6 by the 40-minute mark, with Seán Nolan (free) and defender Jack Kehoe adding the points while Cathal Doyle had a goal attempt smothered by Seán Tyrell after good work by Gavin Sheehan and Nolan.
A well-taken solo goal from Sheehan, now at midfield, was a welcome boost for the blue and whites, but it was never going to alter the outcome.
Indeed, St. Mary’s responded like true Senior champions in waiting, as the next score was a goal at the other end from Conor McCarthy, after Cian Farrell lofted a beautiful pass over the head of the last covering defender.
It didn’t get any easier for Counsel thereafter, with St. Mary’s adding another five points and just one forthcoming in reply from Oisín Knox.
With the Barrowsiders now departed, the last Wexford hope rests with reigning champions St. Peter’s who seem to have a similarly daunting task.
After drawing with St. Benildus, they might have winced at the scoreline from last week when the Dubliners were annihilated by Athlone Community College (3-15 to 0-9).
And that has left a do-or-die game for the Summerhill side versus the midlanders at a venue to be decided this coming Friday.
Good Counsel: Kyle Martin (Rathnure); Jack Kehoe (Horeswood, 0-1), Tommy Ryan (Gusserane), Eamonn O’Sullivan (Horeswood); Diarmuid Kehoe (Geraldine O’Hanrahans), Gavin Sheehan (Gusserane, 1-1), Pádraig Bailey (Geraldine O’Hanrahans); Michael Cleere (Geraldine O’Hanrahans), Mark Kehoe (Gusserane); Kevin O’Donohoe (Gusserane, 0-2), Seán Nolan (Horeswood, capt., 0-2 frees), Darragh Hartley (Glenmore); Eoin Ryan (Gusserane), Oisín Knox (Mullinavat, 0-1), Cathal Doyle (Taghmon-Camross). Subs. - Michael Galavan (The Rower-Inistioge) for M. Kehoe (37), Robert Cogley (Bannow-Ballymitty) for Hartley (37), Richard Foley (Graiguenamanagh) for O’Donohoe (38), Ciarán O’Brien (Ballinagore, Westmeath) for O’Sullivan (45), Seán Holden (Graiguenamanagh) for Doyle (48).
St. Mary’s: Seán Tyrell; Adao Dafe, Dean Cummins, Jamie Coates; Richie Coffey, Cathal Farrell (capt.), Seán Bannon; Brian Milmoe (0-1), Mark Grehan; Ciarán Nolan (0-1), Gary Redmond, Seán Coffey; Conor McCarthy (1-2), Cian Farrell (0-13, 4 frees), Mark Cully (0-3). Subs. - Ciarán Holton for Cathal Farrell, black card (30+2), Killian Galligan for S. Coffey (46), Jack Smyth (0-2) for Nolan (46), Ciarán Breen (0-1) for Redmond (51), Jack Brady for Grehan (55), Aaron Mangan for Cian Farrell (59).
Referee: Brendan Hickey (Kildare).