Good Counsel emerge after three thrilling encounters!
They would not fall behind again.
Scoil Dara, who proved their steel in the previous games, battled back to level at 2-11 each after 72 minutes. However, scores from Richard Hennessy and Jamie Myler gave Good Counsel a two-point advantage with time ticking away.
Dean Hosey halved the deficit with a booming free but Good Counsel survived a full two minutes of pressure football to book their last eight place after three hard-fought, memorable ties.
Earlier, Kilcock had the better of the opening half, building a 1-4 to 0-4 interval advantage. The impressive Ethan Devine hit the net for the Kildare school but points from Sinnott (2), Myler and Donal Porter kept Good Counsel in touch.
A blitz after the resumption saw the Ross school draw level. Myler and Lyons notched from play while Porter, who would become a real weapon from dead-balls as the half wore on, kicked a free from the left of goal with his right peg.
When Adam Murphy fired Kilcock a goal ahead at the end of the third quarter, it seemed a long way back for the County Wexford school.
They were blessed to survive a ping-pong in their goalmouth in the 49th minute with Murphy, Cormac Divilly and Devine all having chances of putting the tie to bed.
It was game-on five minutes from time when St James’ star Myler executed the perfect onetwo with Sinnott. Breaking in on goal, the Good Counsel attacker produced the finish to match, high past Fionn Talbot (2-7 to 1-9).
Still trailing by one, Porter levelled with a free, then the Wexford Youths player held his nerve in stoppage time and responded to a Luke Kelly point to send the game into two 10-minute extra-time periods.
From there Good Counsel eventually got themselves ahead courtesy of Coakley’s goal and were able to hold on to their lead in the end. Next up for the New Ross school is an intriguing quarter-final tie against Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar with a last four clash with Moate awaiting the victor.
Good Counsel: Fionn Slattery; Eamonn O’Sullivan, Darragh O’Connor, Cathal O’Connor; Richard Hennessy (0-1), Eoin Porter (0-6 frees), Diarmuid Kehoe; Darragh Lyons (capt, 0-1), Thomas Ryan; Sean Nolan, Jamie Myler (1-3, 0-2 frees), Eric Cummins; Luke Sinnott (0-2), Oisin Knox, Sam Wall. Subs. - Jamie Wallace for Kehoe (13), Emmett Coakley (1-0) for Cummins (31), Danny Murphy for C. O’Connor (51), D. Kehoe for Murphy (57), Jim Ryan for Lyons, temp (69-70+1).
Scoil Dara: Fionn Talbot; Jack Bruton, Daniel Devine, Lee Loughnane; Conor Harnan (capt.), Cormac Divilly, Matt Brennan; Ciaran Smyth, Shane Walsh (0-3 frees); Luke Kelly (0-2), Conor Frayne (0-1), Ethan Devine (1-3, 0-2 frees); Adam Murphy (1-1), Sean Martin, Dean Hosey. Subs. - Oran Smullen for Hosey (47), D. Hosey (0-2, 1 free) for Murphy, inj (69), Tim McCarthy for Loughnane (78).
Referee: (Laois) Seamus Mulhare