Joy for border boys Boland and Kinsella shine as Coláiste Eoin triumph
at Ferns COE COLÁISTE EOIN BRIDGETOWN VS 2-15 4-2
IT was second time lucky for the men of Coláiste Eoin as exactly a year ago they left the Wexford Centre of Excellence in Ferns empty handed following a defeat to a classy Ramsgrange CS in the South Leinster second-year final.
This year would be different. A steely determination and a hunger for success drove this team on last Thursday in a windswept Ferns. Conditions were dry and blustery. It was Coláiste Eoin who opened the scoring with a fine effort by corner-forward Aaron Byrne after James Boland and Adam Kinsella did the spadework.
Kinsella would follow up with one of his own on the second minute, the Knockananna man splitting the posts from 45 metres out.
The Wicklow border school had the aid of the breeze and they were anxious to capitalise on this.
However, the Bridgetown school had other ideas and after a long ball floated in by Adam Lambert caused confusion in the Hacketstown full-back line the ball ended up in the net thanks to their full-forward Lewis Cosgrave. Ben White added a point in the seventh minute leaving the score at 1-1 to 0-2 in favour of the Wexford outfit.
Coláiste Eoin were to score the next four points without reply. Two from the boot of full-forward Aaron Kelly, who was the perfect target man inside as Darragh Kelly’s team opted to send it long at every opportunity. Standing six feet tall, the Bridgetown defence were no match for Kelly’s height and aerial ability.
The other two scores came from a free from Eoin Canna on 15 minutes and another monster from play from centre forward Adam Kinsella.
Kiltegan’s James Boland was proving to be a handful at midfield as he ran at the Bridgetown defence. Twenty minutes in Eoin Canna raised another white flag for the Hacketstown side with Aaron Kelly following up soon after.
Coláiste Eoin were playing good football now and looked to be the slicker of the two teams. They were moving the ball quickly into the full-forward line.
On the 25-minute mark Aaron Kelly’s shot at goal just dipped under Jack Kelly’s crossbar and over the line giving his side a seven-point lead. Bridgetown went up the field and pointed on 27 minutes against the elements. Eoin Canna’s coverted free after Boland was fouled on the 20-metre line was the last action of the half and saw the Carlow outfit leading by eight points, 1-11 to 1-2.
The second half began in a frenzied fashion. Bridgetown seized an opportunity to kick a high ball into the Hacketstown defence from a free and in the confusion, it resulted in a goal by corner-forward Aidan Brennan.
To make matters worse for the Wicklow border school Lewis Cosgrave converted a penalty on 38 minutes to cut the deficit to two.
Aaron Kelly steadied the ship once more on the 40-minute mark but Bridgetown piled on the pressure and with 20 minutes to go things were looking ominous for Coláiste Eoin when Eoin Cheevers netted for the Wexford side.
Changes were forthcoming from the Hacketstown management with Darragh Kelly, Eddie Brennan and Alan Costello opting to move Dara Connolly to full-back, Kinsella to number six and bringing back wing forward Lee Doyle to operate as a sweeper.
With the game hanging in the balance there was panic as possession was overturned several times and Bridgetown with the wind in their sails were playing with a renewed confidence.
However, they were not to score again in the match as two Coláiste Eoin players in particular grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and dragged their team along with them.
I know it’s not something I say lightly but anyone who was watching the game would agree with me that both James Boland and Adam Kinsella were quite simply outstanding in the last quarter, when their team needed them the most. They caught kickouts, retained possession, ran relentlessly at the Wexford side, won frees, took frees and displayed true leadership right up to the final whistle.
The ever industrious Knockananna man Eoin Canna goaled on 50 minutes to the delight of the crowd.
The classy Jack O’Toole’s point along with Adam Kinsella’s 35-metre free off the ground against the wind topped off a formidable display from the Coláiste Eoin side. Aaron Davis got in on the act on 55 minutes with a fine individual effort.
As Dickie Murphy blew the final whistle there was both delight and I dare say a sense of relief for the Coláiste Eoin supporters who travelled down. The trophy was presented to joint captains James Boland and Adam Kinsella in front of a jubilant crowd.
Adam Doyle (Clonmore); Patrick O’Byrne (Coolkenno), Mathew Jackson (Michael Dwyers), Jack Weekes (Clonmore); Jack O’Toole
COLÁISTE EOIN:
(Michael Dwyers)(0-1), Aaron Davis (Clonmore)(0-1), Callum McRea (Michael Dwyers); James Boland (Michael Dwyers), Dara Connolly (Clonmore); Lewis McDonnell (Clonmore), Adam Kinsella (Michael Dwyers)(0-4), Lee Doyle (Clonmore); Eoin Canna (Michael Dwyers) (1-4), Aaron Kelly (Clonmore)(1-4), Aaron Byrne (Clonmore)(0-1). Subs: 20. Davin
Tallon (M. Dwyers) for McRae (50), 18. Cian Weekes (Clonmore) for Aaron Byrne (53). Not used: Corey O’Toole (Aughrim), John McKernan (Clonmore, Noah Hayes (M. Dwyers), Scott Daly (M. Dwyers), Sean Walsh (M. Dwyers), Adam Nolan (Clonmore), Josh Byrne (M. Dwyers), Reuben Hunter (Clonmore)(Inj).
REFEREE:
Dickie Murphy (Wexford)