Super Counsel’s fourth win
First years follow in Juveniles’ footsteps with double
GOOD COUNSEL College completed a stunning quadruple in Bellefield as they added the Top Oil Leinster Post Primary Schools first year ‘A’ football championship to their impressive haul of silverware.
This success, which came after a Juvenile double and the equivalent hurling crown, is a truly remarkable end to the most incredible of years for the New Ross school. It’s the inaugural season of the first year competition, but it’s hard to believe that this feat will be accomplished again any time soon.
The manner of these wins is almost as impressive as the victories themselves. These Good Counsel sides are playing with so much confidence that they just don’t seem to have even contemplated the possibility of losing.
Out of those four successes, this was probably the best test that Good Counsel got. Full credit to St. Peter’s, as they already impressed by making this final and they really gave it everything throughout the 50 minutes.
Indeed, midway through the half just two points separated the sides. Then, despite conceding a goal, St. Peter’s edged back to four points again and had chances to cut the deficit even further as the game moved into the final four minutes.
But champions, teams used to winning, often finish the game on the front foot, rather than defending a lead.
That’s exactly what Good Counsel did. The 2-2 they scored in the time remaining was more than a little harsh on the Summerhill boys, but that’s what great teams do.
Good Counsel were exceptional from back to front. Right from goalkeeper Will Foley - who made a sharp save when Luke Murphy tried to catch him out with a low free - through a mizerly back six, St. Peter’s had to work themselves ragged for every score.
The spine was rock solid with Michael Mulligan and Danny Glennon a great anchor that allowed Eoin Whelan and Joe Devlin a licence to attack.
Despite being under the weather, Cathal Parker was the star of a relentless front six, scoring two goals and making the other.
With the light breeze at their backs, Good Counsel bossed the first ten minutes. Both midfielders, as well as Glennon, were on the scoreboard as they moved into a 0-3 to nil lead in that spell.
Parker tested Eoin Halligan in the 14th minute but the Sarsfields clubman was up to the challenge and produced a solid stop.
St. Peter’s almost got back into the game moments later but Luke Murphy’s handpass just drifted too far for a lurking Darragh Murphy.
The same duo combined in the 18th minute, and Murphy got the shot away this time, only to see his effort blocked. Eoin Whelan’s second free made it 0-4 to nil and that’s the way it stayed until the half-time interval.
Two Luke Murphy points within minutes of the re-start roared that St. Peter’s were coming to the party.
Whelan replied with a brace in kind but when Murphy added a third and Ryan Curran kicked a lovely point, there was just two between these great rivals with 13 minutes left (0-6 to 0-4).
A glorious floated goal by Parker, after great work by Kyle Rankin, looked to have set Good Counsel on the road to a comfortable last few minutes.
However, St. Peter’s battered their goal for six minutes but could only come away with a Darragh Murphy point.
That spell of heroic defending got into the minds of the St. Peter’s lads.
Points by Parker and Whelan hurt the Wexford school, but a second Parker goal and a close range punched effort from Evan Cullen ensured that Good Counsel didn’t have any nervy moments as they claimed an historic fourth success.
Good Counsel: Will Foley (Horeswood); Seán Nunan (Fethard), Michael Mulligan (Clongeen), Seán Whelan (Clongeen); Darragh Flannelly (Geraldine O’Hanrahans), Danny Glennon (Tullogher-Rosbercon, 0-1), Dean Kehoe (Adamstown); Eoin Whelan (Fethard, 0-5, 4 frees), Joe Devlin (Bannow-Ballymitty, 0-1); Peter McDonald (Mullinavat), Darragh Redmond (Cloughbawn), Cathal Parker (Horeswood, 2-1); Evan Cullen (St. Fintan’s, 1-0), Kyle Rankin (St. Fintan’s), Cillian Byrne (Fethard). Subs. - Sam Norval (St. Martin’s) for Redmond (47), Conor Bolger (The Rower-Inistioge) for Cullen (50+3), James Quinn (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown) for Kehoe (50+3), Chris Murphy for McDonald (50+3).
St. Peter’s: Eoin Halligan (Sarsfields); Daniel Ormonde (Shelmaliers), Conor Lyne (Glynn-Barntown), Josh Murphy (St. Martin’s); Robbie Delaney (Shelmaliers), Luke Roche (Shelmaliers), Will Hayes (Glynn-Barntown); Finn Ryan (St. Anne’s), Ryan Curran (Sarsfields, 0-1); Joe Mernagh (St. Martin’s), Cathal Murphy (St. Anne’s), Luke Murphy (Sarsfields, 0-3, 1 free); Seán Cooney (Glynn-Barntown), Darragh Murphy (Glynn-Barntown, 0-1), Harry Curtis (Sarsfields). Subs. - Daniel Devereux (St. Fintan’s) for Delaney (12), Jesse Dempsey (Sarsfields) for Mernagh (26), Cal Innes (Sarsfields) for Cooney (35), Cian Turner (Glynn-Barntown) for Hayes (50+1), Josh Whitty (St. Martin’s) for J. Murphy (50+1), Ferdia Reynolds (Glynn-Barntown) for Innes (50+1).
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).