First year footballers strike gold for Peter’s with Leinster title
ST. PETER’S (WEXFORD) MARIST (ATHLONE) 6-15 3-6
THERE’S A new batch of footballing talent in the St. Peter’s College system, and they showed just how bright the future of the big ball sport could be in the Summerhill school by winning the Top Oil Leinster Post-Primary Schools first year ‘A’ championship title.
Only three years removed from the school contesting an All-Ireland Senior final, this new batch of talent went unbeaten for the season on their way to what, with hard work and dedication, could be the first of many titles for the school.
With over 70 lads turning for an early-season blitz and most still in training sessions, there is clearly an appetite for the sport in the school.
Led by Willie White and Gerald Luby, the numbers were whittled down for the ‘A’ squad, with a ‘B’ team also competing, and the results were remarkable.
Old foes Good Counsel were dispatched with ease in the opening game (5-14 to 1-6) before Knockbeg were beaten by 31 points four days later.
A draw with a talented Naas C.B.S. side was enough to advance to the decider, and St. Peter’s were determined from the off.
Four of their starting forwards managed to net, plus half-back Rian Ormonde, so there were scores coming from everywhere.
Ben O’Toole got on the board also, and Robbie Byrne made a fine impression with three points off the bench.
They didn’t have everything their own way, as they got off to a fast start with four early points but Marist battled back to lead by 2-1 to 0-5 just after the midpoint of the first-half.
What St. Peter’s were able to do in the remaining time in the period gave them a great basis to push on for the win.
Cathal Sinnott stroked home from the penalty spot to get them going, and his side went on to goal again, while Joe O’Leary also found the net to send St.
Peter’s into the half-time break leading by 3-8 to 2-3.
With Harry Murphy and Eoin Mongan adding their names to the list of goalscorers, things kept getting better for St. Peter’s. They led by twelve with 20 minutes left and showed no signs of slowing down as all the substitutes got a run.
In the end the Summerhill boys ran out 18-point winners against their Athlone opponents in Heywood to wrap up a memorable success for this young side, potentially the first of many if they keep working hard.
St. Peter’s: Adam Reynolds; Niall Furlong, Jack Scallan, Corey Ryan; Oscar Barry, Rian Ormonde (1-1), Chris Frawley; Ben O’Toole (0-1), Alec Moran; Joe O’Leary (1-4), Harry Murphy (1-2), Oltan O’Reilly; Cormac Simpson, Cathal Sinnott (capt., 2-3), Eoin Mongan (11). Subs. (all used) - Callum Mooney, Conor Murphy, Stefan Bates, Ronan George, Jason Rossiter, Fionn Nolan, Liam Kielthy, Joshua Duggan, Robbie Byrne (0-3), also Cian Moran.