WICKLOW SCHOOLS SFC ‘A’ FINAL Victory over border

GAA Seven feature in Carnew’s triumph

SEVEN COUNTY Wexford footballers played major roles in the winning of Coláiste Bhride Carnew’s ninth Schools ‘A’ title in the Wicklow decider last Thursday evening in a damp and dreary Joule Park, Aughrim.

Captained by Kilanerin’s Donnchadh McDonald who proved to be very solid at full-back, the Carnew side adjusted to the terrible conditions much the better of the two teams and thanks to two goals, one from Castletown’s Darragh Brooks, they clinched victory over Gaelcholáiste na Mara from Arklow who have now lost the last three deciders.

McDonald was joined in the full-back line by Kilrush’s Peter O’Neill, while a dominant midfield pairing of Robbie Brooks from Castletown and Kilanerin’s Seán Bardon laid the platform for the 2-5 to 0-8 victory.

Ned O’Neill of Kilrush and the aforementioned and very impressive Darragh Brooks were stationed in the half-forward line, while Seán Forde prowled on the edge of the square and notched two points over the course of the hour.

The Coláiste Bhride side were reduced to 14 men when centre half-back Dean Grandy went on a second yellow.

However, the dogged and determined border outfit pushed on and their second goal from Tinahely’s Eoin Darcy was enough to win them the crown they last claimed in 2015 against the same opposition.

Interestingly, Gaelcholáiste na Mara had eleven members of that team still involved last Thursday while Coláiste Bhride had only two, Robbie Brooks - a county Minor last year - being one of those.

Coláiste Bhride: Alan Lillis (Tinahely); Peter O’Neill (Kilrush), Donnchadh McDonald (Kilanerin, capt.), James Tyrrell (Tinahely); Curtis Keating (Tinahely), Dean Grandy (Coolboy), Ian Clancy (Aughrim); Robbie Brooks (Castletown), Seán Bardon (Kilanerin); Ned O’Neill (Kilrush), Rory Stokes (Tinahely), Darragh Brooks (Castletown); James Hedderman (Tinahely), Seán Forde (Kilanerin), Eoin Darcy (Tinahely). Subs. - James Gregan (Carnew Emmets) for N. O’Neill (45), Jim Sharry (Kilrush) for Keating (50), Cillian Gilligan (Carnew Emmets) for D. Brooks (55).