O’Connor points way
Wicklow Schools win South Leinster Juvenile C crown
WICKLOW Schools won the South Leinster Juvenile C championsip with an excellent display in Bunclody on Wednesday against a fine Presentation De La Salle Bagenalstown side.
The Carlow school had the wind behind them in the first half but it was Wicklow who opened the score with a PJ O’Connor point in the second minute but points by Jake Doyle and Darragh Nolan soon had Bagenalstown ahead.
In the seventh minute corner forward Liam Somers had the ball in the net for a Wicklow goal and a minute later the same player sent over a point.
Bagenalstown, with wind assistance, had the bulk of possession for the remainder of the half but will rue their eight wides.
The sides were level with a few minutes remaining but two late points by P J O’Connor left Wicklow leading by 1-4 to 0-5 when Wexford referee Dickie Murphy blew the half time whistle.
Bagenalstown opened the second half scoring with a Jake Doyle point in the first minute but his team were not to score again for another 15 minutes.
At the other end Wicklow picked off the points with P J O’Connor again to the fore but they also had their share of wides as their second half total came to eight.
Wicklow led by 1-8 to 0-6 after 16 minutes but should have been out of sight at this stage.
Bagenalstown never gave up and came right back into the game when Jake Doyle scored a goal after some strong pressure and Jack McCullagh pointed immediately afterwards to narrow the gap to a single point.
Wicklow manager Jonathan Tallon made some astute substitutions at this stage but it was P J O’Connor who added their final four points from long range to give Wicklow Schools a deserved but hard earned victory.
After the game the trophy was presented to Wicklow captain Michael Cleary by Pat Henderson of Leinster Council.
This was a fine all round display of skilful hurling by the Wicklow team.
Michael Cleary was sound under pressure while Neil Browne and Shane Browne were very strong in defence.
Brian Keogh did well in midfield while P J O’Connor and Tom Moran were to the fore in attack but all the team and the subs who came on made a big contribution to a fine win.
WICKLOW SCHOOLS SCORERS: P J O’Connor 0-10. Liam Somers 1-1, Tom Moran 0-1.
TEAM: Michael Cleary, Adam Bush, Neil Browne, Darren Reilly, Rory Martin, Shane Browne, Ben Burke, Brian Keogh, Jack Grace, Tom O’Brien, P J O’Connor, Tom Moran, Cian O’Neill, Torna Mulconry, Liam Somers. SUBS: Daniel Healy for C O’Neill, Alan Miley for T O’Brien, Joseph Prendergast for J Grace, Bill O’Brien for L Somers, Brian Keogh for B Burke, jack Reid for A Bush. Also Jordan Viera, T J O’Neill, James FFrench.