AVONDALE QUALIFY!
Rathdrum side see off Blessington to book semi spot
AVONDALE QUALIFY
THE Wicklow qualifier for the South Leinster Junior football ‘D’ semi-final concluded on Thursday. Blessington CC had already qualified for Thursday’s final but Avondale CC had to defeat Coláiste Chraobh Abhann in Kilcoole on Monday to join them there.
It was not looking good for them at half time as CCA led by 2-3 to 1-5 but they showed improved form in the second half and went on to win by 2-14 to 3-6. Avondale had fine players in Mark Cullen, Zach Cullen, Dale Fluskey, Andrew Brancato and Kelan Busher while Sam Bishop, J P Nolan, Cian McHugh and Oisin Cullen impressed for Chraobh Abhann.
AVONDALE CC 2-12 BLESSINGTON CC 2-04
The final of the Wicklow qualifier was played in Ballinakill on Thursday. Blessington started extremely well and led by 1-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes.
The goal was a fine team effort finished by Claude Tounou. Indeed, the same player had the ball in the net again soon afterwards but the goal was correctly disallowed.
Avondale took control for the second quarter showing great skill and teamwork and went on to lead by 2-9 to 2-3 at half-time.
Blessington had the majority of possession in the second half but found the Avondale defence difficult to break down. They also looked to score goals when points were available.
Avondale, on the other hand, were content to pick off the points in their occasional breakaways. At the end of a fine game of football it was Avondale who deservedly qualified for the South Leinster semi-final.
AVONDALE CC: Daniel Morley, Oisin Dillon, Kelan Busher, Oisin Dunne, Liam Dickenson, Andrew Brancato, John Toomey, James Curley, Dale Fluskey, Cormac McGraynor, Ollie Matthews, Zach Cullen, Adam Keegan, Mark Cullen, Cian Ward.
BLESSINGTON CC: R Willoughby, J l Morris, C Roe, T Fisher, C Mooney, J O’Brien, J Leitner, C Maguire, C Reid, R Miley, J O’Kelly, C Somers, E Daly, C Tounou, L Dowling, J Horan. Subs: J Sammon, L Sarkauskas, M O’Toole, J Hamilton, B Clarke.
REF: Tony McLoughlin, Bray
GIRLS SENIOR FOOTBALL
The clash of Dominican College Wicklow and Blessington CC produced a fine game of football in the Senior ‘B’ championship in Wicklow.
At half-time Dominican led by 3-0 to 0-7 despite playing against the wind. The second half was equally close but the difference between the sides was the ability of the Wicklow town school to score goals. With a few minutes to go Blessington sent a penalty over the bar and in the end Dominican were victorious by 5-4 to 0-12. Referee was Eddie Leonard.
A major reason why Blessington failed to score a goal was the performance of DCW goalkeeper Megan Dunne.
Others to impress for the winners included Sarah Evans, Aine Cahill, Kellie Phelan, Lucy Dunne, Amy Kavanagh and Siobhan Gorman. Best for Blessington were Molly Behan, Sarah Bohan, Sophie Cronin, Hannah McManus, Anna Vasa Tajeva and Ellie McKeever.
In the same competition, Loreto College Bray impressed with a big win over St Mary’s College Arklow. Best for the winners were Alannah McEvoy, Eimear Martin, Jane Butler and Eleanor Carroll Hayes
In girls Junior football ‘B’ Coláiste Chraobh Abhann Kilcoole had a good win over St Kevin’s CC Dunlavin B team.
COL C/BH ABHANN 3-07 AVONDALE CC 3-07
Avondale played with the breeze in the first half and led by 2-5 to 0-2 at half-time.
CCA upped the tempo in the second half and led by a point in the closing stages but Ryan Kavanagh pointed an injury-time free for Avondale to secure a share of the points.
Both goalkeepers impressed, Ryan Curran for CCA and Brooklyn Busher for Avondale.
Others to star for the Kilcoole school were Craig Davis, Luke Breen, Alex Dutton and sharpshooter Dara Heffernan while Leo Byrne, Callum Mckenna, Tomas Murphy, Ross O’Doherty and inspirational Ryan Kavanagh starred for Avondale